FAYETTE COUNTY — A 36-year-old Mt. Olive man was sentenced Wednesday in Fayette County Court to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after he pleaded guilty to arson and meth related charges.

Brian T. Thompson was sentenced to 10 years for aggravated arson knowing people present – a Class X felony, and to two years for possession of less than 5-grams of meth, to be served concurrently.

A Class 2 charge of arson of personal or real property and Class 4 felony and criminal trespass were dismissed per the plea agreement.

According to evidence presented in court, in April 2014, Thompson set a vehicle on fire at a residence in Vandalia and the vehicle fire subsequently spread to the home.

While the vehicle was destroyed, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire to the home before it damaged the inside of the house.

Thompson was arrested later that same morning and taken to the Fayette County jail on charges connected with the fire and with possession of meth.

He must serve 85 percent of his sentence and was ordered to pay more than $37,000 in restitution, plus an additional $1,500 in court costs and fees remaining. He was given credit for 388 days previously served in jail.

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