(BEDFORD) – A Springville man was sentenced by Lawrence County Superior Court I Judge John Plummer III to six years of supervised probation for setting a wildfire that caused damage to Highview Baptist Church.
Sean M. Meadows, 28, was sentenced on one count of felony arson, in addition to auto theft from a separate case after pleading guilty in a negotiated plea deal on November 1st and was released on his own recognizance until his sentencing.
The Crime
On April 1, 2019, Meadows found himself behind bars facing arson charges after setting several fires in March.
Police arrested Meadows, of Springville, on felony charges of arson resulting in injury, three counts of arson, burglary, two counts of torturing an animal and misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest. Two dogs perished in one of the fires.
Firefighters from several fire departments in Lawrence, Greene, and Monroe counties and from Crane joined forces to battle three structure fires and two wildfires all within a very short distance of one another on Patton Hill Road, Avoca-Eureka Road and Greer Lane.
Deputies from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, six area volunteer fire departments, and IU Health Ambulance service and Tabernacle of Praise Emergency services responded.
Detectives and the state fire marshal responded to investigate after firefighters found the fires were intentionally set.
Times of fires and the locations:
- 2:27 p.m. at 85 Greer Lane, an occupied home. Two family dogs perished.
- 2:37 p.m. at 142 Patton Hill Road, unoccupied mobile home and burglary.
- 2:48 p.m. at 424 Patton Hill Road, detached garage
- 3:08 p.m. behind 1514 Avoca Eureka Road, a wildfire, at the back of Purdue Farm
- 3:28 p.m. at 60 Patton Hill Road a wildfire damaged Highview Baptist Church.
