Arsonists get 8 years, nearly $20,000 fine
By Diana Royal Staff Writer

Two men charged with arson in Burke County will spend the next eight years in jail and are responsible for paying nearly $20,000 in restitution.

Brandon Atkinson of Blythe and Anthony Carl Hobbs of Matthews pleaded guilty to one charge each of arson and criminal attempt to commit an arson in Superior Court last Monday, Jan. 7.

Superior Court Judge James G. Blanchard Jr. sentenced the pair to eight years for the arson charge and five years on the criminal attempt charge, to run concurrent.

Each man was also ordered to pay a portion of the $19,600 restitution, and if one fails to pay, the other is responsible.

The two men, along with Tara Renee Norton of Blythe, were charged in May of last year for a string of fires set in Burke County.

When the charges were filed, the trio was behind bars in Jefferson County, with at least five counts of arson each.

Prior to their arrests, seven fires had been set in the Hephzibah and Keysville areas in March - and firefighters put out 35 fires between the two counties. The fires stopped after the arrests were made.

Norton appeared before Judge Blanchard in October of last year, pleading guilty to the same charges. She was handed 10- and 5-year sentences, to run concurrent, and to pay her share in restitution as well.

All three were initially charged with three counts of arson each in Burke County.