By Larry Stanford
The Thomaston Times
UPSON COUNTY, Ga. — Suspected arsonist Travis Leroy Ball pled guilty to one count of Arson in the First Degree in Upson County Superior Court on Monday, June 16. Judge Stephen E. Boswell sentenced him to 12 years, five to serve in prison and seven years on probation.
Ball, from Warner Robins, was arrested on January 8, 2013 in Lamar County after a lookout was posted for a vehicle matching his, which was seen in the area of two suspicious house fires in Upson County on Jan. 7.
Ball was eventually charged with four counts of Arson in the First Degree for fires at homes on Crest Highway, Pickard Road, and Burkett Road. He also faced similar charges in Lamar County for several suspicious fires, but those charges were eventually dropped due to lack of evidence.
Ball accepted a plea deal in Upson County Superior Court on Monday and pled guilty to one count of Arson in the First Degree for a fire set at 402 Burkett Road on January 7, 2013. The other charges were dropped, but Griffin Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Ben Coker said later that his office was satisfied with the outcome.
“The plea recommendation was a result of a variety of issues that presented themselves during the course of case preparation,” Coker said. “However, given the issues that arose, the State and law enforcement were satisfied that we were able to remove an arsonist from the street. The District Attorney’s office would like to specifically thank Sgt. Jeff Taylor, Captain William Hoseley, Sheriff Dan Kilgore and Sheriff Brad White for their help in resolving the case.”
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(c)2014 The Thomaston Times (Thomaston, Ga.)
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