ND church arsonist gets 6 years in prison
DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) - A Dickinson man who burglarized a church and then set it on fire has been sentenced to serve six years in prison.
Authorities say 21-year-old Joshua Whitworth was charged with burglary, theft of property and arson after breaking into the Church of Christ in Dickinson, stealing $130 and starting a fire to destroy evidence in December. He pleaded guilty in June to burglary and arson as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.
The Dickinson Press reports that Whitworth also was ordered to pay nearly $2,000 in court fees, fines and restitution. Judge Zane Anderson also said he wanted Whitworth to undergo chemical dependency and psychological assessments. Whitworth's attorney, Jay Greenwood, said his client was under the influence of drugs when he broke into the church.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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