A 28-year-old Beckemeyer man has been sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty in Marion County Court to residential arson. As part of the plea agreement, Justin Pitt had a charge of residential burglary to the same home at 708 South Pine Street dropped.
The incident occurred in March. Centralia Police said at the time of the arrest Pitts and another man, 26-year-old Nicholas Fletcher of Central City, had been arrested after learning the two had been involved in a trade of sex for drugs and had used the home because they knew the occupant was out of town. After spending the night in the home, the two are accused of taking several items from the home before setting it on fire.
Centralia Fire Chief John Lynch said the fire appeared to have been set in several places. The home was heavily involved in flames upon the department’s arrival.
After getting out of prison, Pitt will have to serve two years of patrol and pay court costs.
Charges of residential arson and residential burglary are still pending against Fletcher.
