By Kayleigh Zyskowski
The Herald & Review
TOLEDO, Ill. — A Greenup man on Friday pleaded guilty to 22 arson-related charges connected to about 22 fires set since 2009 in Cumberland County.
Levi Barnes, 21, faced a total of 65 charges. However, with the plea agreement arranged by Cumberland County States Attorney Jonathan Braden and Barnes counsel Bob Dunst, he pleaded guilty to 21 arson charges and one aggravated arson charge, a Class X felony.
Aggravated arson can be related to several factors, Braden said previously. However, in this case, it’s because individuals were inside the homes when the fires were lit.
Forty-three counts were dismissed, mostly burglary and residential arson charges.
Essentially, Barnes entered a guilty plea representing one charge per property fire, Braden said Friday.
As part of the agreement, the state will not request more than 10 years of prison time. Sentencing is slated for Dec. 4.
After a monthslong investigation into the long string of arsons starting Nov. 28, 2009, Barnes and Paul McCormick, 23, of Toledo were arrested and charged with a total of 79 counts of arson and residential burglary. During a March 18 hearing at the Cumberland County Courthouse, investigator Jeff Pride said that during a series of interviews following their arrests Feb. 26, the men admitted to setting the fires.
McCormick pleaded guilty Aug. 1 and was sentenced to serve 41/2 years in prison followed by two years of supervised release. According to the agreements, both men must register as arsonists.
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