Alleged serial arsonist accepts tentative deal
A man who allegedly set fire to multiple homes in Uniontown pleaded guilty before a scheduled preliminary hearing Tuesday.
Michael Thomas Deeds III, 34, of Uniontown accepted a tentative plea deal of 14 to 28 years for five counts of arson, 11 counts of attempted homicide and other charges lodged against him in four cases.
He is accused of setting fires from early May until July. Deeds was arrested July 11. Uniontown police reported witnesses named him as a suspect before he confessed to the string of arsons. He allegedly set fire to a vacant home and a garage on Murray Avenue and two occupied homes on Walnut Street. The garage fire also ignited an occupied home on Madison Avenue.
No injuries were reported in the fires.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 something he was going to stop until he was caught,鈥� said Uniontown City Police Lt. Tom Kolencik. 鈥淚t was just going to be a matter of time before someone got hurt or killed.鈥�
Deeds allegedly started a fire July 10 because he was upset that he was kicked out of a party at 142 Walnut St. and could not get more beer.
He allegedly started a fire the next day at 167 Walnut St. because he was upset that a resident would not give him another cigarette. The fire started after he allegedly used a candle to light a plastic chair pad on fire.
The fires caused more than $75,000 in combined damage.
Kolencik said Deeds was upset and very apologetic.
The suspect greeted Magisterial District Judge Michael Metros in the courtroom Tuesday, saying 鈥淚鈥檓 sorry for 鈥�.鈥� He cut himself short when he saw his father and sister walk into the courtroom. His expression crumbled into tears.
Kolencik said that while he cannot know Deeds鈥� mindset in allegedly starting the fires, he did not think the alleged crimes were premeditated.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think, at the time, he was thinking. I think at the time, it was more out of anger,鈥� he said.
Uniontown City Police and State Police fire marshals investigated, assisted by the Uniontown Fire Department.
Kolencik thanked the fire department for their efforts, saying arsons are very difficult to solve without a joint effort.
Deeds is also charged with five counts of causing catastrophe, 14 counts of recklessly endangering another person and four counts of criminal mischief.
He is lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of a $250,000 bond.