Arsonist sentenced after 111-year-old Mason County Courthouse destroyed
MASON, Texas (KXAN) — A man was convicted and sentenced Feb. 28 on two first-degree felony arson-related charges and three others in connection with a February 2021 fire that destroyed a 111-year-old courthouse in Mason County.
Documents showed Nicholas Jarret Miller would serve 75 years in state prison related to the charges, which all run concurrently.
According to court documents, Miller pleaded guilty to four of the charges, which included:
- unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon
- burglary of a building
- unauthorized use of a vehicle
- one count of arson intended to damage a habitat/place of worship.
Miller pleaded not guilty to one of the arson charges, according to court documents.
The trial for Miller, which required a change of venue to a separate courthouse, began Jan. 23 in Brady, Texas. He was found guilty on that arson charge.
According to Texas penal code, arson is when a person starts a fire, regardless of whether the fire continues after ignition, or causes an explosion with intent to destroy or damage.
For each arson charge, Miller received a sentence of 75 years in prison, as well as 10 years related to the unlawful possession of a firearm charge and two years each for the burglary charge and unauthorized use of a vehicle charge.
Toward his sentence, Miller has a jail credit of 1,119 days.
According to court documents, Miller has a right to appeal each of the sentences.
The restoration of the Mason County Courthouse has been underway for the past two years, with the building expected to re-open later in 2024.