Man sentenced to prison for setting fire in Wal-Mart store

January 23, 2015 1:34 pm

By: Dee DeQuattro

Twitter: @deedequattro

A man who pleaded no contest to setting fire to a Newport Wal-Mart store has been sentenced to twenty years in prison with five years to serve, the rest suspended with probation.

George Reddick of New York was charged with one count of first degree arson after he set two fires in the Wal-Mart store back in February in order to cover up his shoplifting activities. One fire was started in the paper goods aisle and the other in the bath and towel aisle.

The store had to be evacuated and it was closed for several days for clean up. Reddick has been held without bail since his arrest in February.

Reddick has also been banned from the Wal-Mart store for the full term of the sentence and ordered to undergo substance abuse and mental health counseling.