Published: February 17, 2009 09:28 am      

Arsonist sentenced to 12 years

Staff Reports

A Cresson man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Friday in a Weatherford court for purposely setting fire to a vacant mobile home three times in the same evening.

Billy James Myers, 29, pled guilty to an arson charge in the 43rd District Court Monday and elected to have visiting Judge David Cleveland assess his punishment.

The case began when the Cresson Volunteer Fire Department was called to a mobile home fire shortly before midnight July 12, in southeast Parker County.

According to Assistant District Attorney Jeff Swain, shortly after the first fire was extinguished and firefighters left the scene, another 9-1-1 call was made reporting another fire at the same home along with another separate fire in a field across the street from the home.

After firefighters put out the second blaze, Cresson Asst. Fire Chief Joe Huffman and former Parker County Assist. Fire Marshal J.C. Travis remained hidden in the area to attempt to catch the person setting the fires.

Within minutes, Travis saw Myers squat down next to the mobile home and start a fire near the front door. Travis arrested Myers, who was said to be intoxicated at the time. A no bond was set for the arson charge.

At the time of the incident, Travis said arson was the hardest crime to prove, but he was sure of a conviction since he was caught “red-handed.”

During the punishment trial, Swain introduced judgments showing Myers had previous convictions of four burglary of a vehicle cases including a felony theft, a misdemeanor theft, evading arrest, adding he was on probation at the time of the arson for a felony prohibited weapons case.

Myers, his wife, and two character witnesses testified for the defense. They indicated Myers was in the residential construction business and was currently working on FEMA construction in Galveston related to Hurricane Ike damage.

Myers was previously arrested late 2007 for crimes committed in Louisiana on a felony warrant. He was charged with theft by fraud, contractors missapplication of payments, engaging in business of contracting without authority and exploitation the infirmed.

Character witnesses said Myers was a good father to his two young children and requested he receive probation.

In sentencing Myers, Cleveland told him he felt sorry for his wife and his children as well as his relatives, but he had to pay for his actions.

Cleveland reminded Myers that laws are “requirements, not merely suggestions.”

“With as dry as our summers usually are in Parker County, any fire can spread rapidly and can cause extensive damage, both intended and unintended,” Swain said. “It doesn’t matter how drunk he was, in between each time that he lit a fire, Mr. Myers had some time to reflect on what he was doing and chose to set the fire again. Given the dangerousness of the offense and this defendant’s criminal record, I think the judge assessed a very fair sentence.”

Myers will be eligible for parole in three years, Swain said.

“Eligibility for parole does not mean that it will be granted,” he added.

Rick Dunn, Myers defense attorney, could not be reached for comment.