A Carter County man charged with setting fire to his own home pled guilty to a lesser offense in court on Tuesday.
Officers of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office arrested Justin McClemons, 26, of 112 Hickory Hollow Road, Elizabethton, on March 9 and charged him with arson and disorderly conduct.
On Tuesday, McClemons entered a guilty plea to charges of disorderly conduct and reckless burning. Judge Keith Bowers Jr. ordered McClemons to pay a $10 fine and court costs on the disorderly conduct charge and a $25 fine and court costs to the reckless burning charge. Bowers also sentenced McClemons to serve 11 months and 29 days on probation for the reckless burning charge.
On March 9, shortly after 11 p.m., officers of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a possible structure fire at 112 Hickory Hollow Road. When officers arrived, they said they found McClemons standing outside and he told them he woke up to find his house on fire. CCSO Sgt. David Caldwell noted in his report that smoke was visible at the home but no flames could be seen.
“Upon entry to the home we observed a piece of notebook paper sticking out of a hole in the bathroom wall,” Caldwell said, adding the notebook paper was burning on the end that was sticking out of the wall. “I knocked the paper out of the wall with my flashlight and at that time Hampton Fire Department arrived on scene and opened the wall up exposing a can of carburetor cleaner, a can of spray paint, more notebook paper and a roll of paper towels that appeared to been set on fire as well, which caused a large amount of the smoke.”
After officers and firefighters checked the inside of the home, Caldwell said they spoke with McClemons regarding the fire.
“Mr. McClemons was intoxicated and became very hostile toward officers when we were discussing the fire,” Caldwell said.