BRIEF: Man pleads guilty to arson

Aug. 29--Justin Michael Markee has pleaded guilty to arson after setting a house on fire in the Gun Barrel City area in July 2017.

He was charged in October while in the Henderson County jail for possession of a controlled substance and evading arrest.

Assistant Henderson County Fire Marshal Sherry Powers responded to the blaze in the Bonita Point subdivision.

"Powers worked very hard on this case and did a great job investigating this fire and putting the pieces together," Fire Marshal Shane Renberg said in October. "The Henderson County Fire Marshal's Office handles a wide range of situations for the county, and arson is one of them. Arson is a very serious crime that cost us all money with higher insurance rates, and we are glad that we can hold those who choose to commit this crime responsible."

Judge Scott McKee of the 392nd Judicial District Court is scheduled to sentence Markee, 33, of Mabank, in October. Henderson County District Attorney Mark Hall said his guilty plea will allow him to avoid the sentencing range of two to 20 years. Instead, he faces two to nine years. He is also eligible for probation.

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