Allen Thomas Sentenced Lone Steer Fire

Alan Thomas

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP Nov 7, 2013) – A man convicted of setting a Steele, North Dakota hotel on fire has been sentence to 46 years in prison.
 
     52-year-old Allen Thomas was sentenced on Thursday.
 
     A jury convicted Thomas in August of one count of arson and 18 counts of endangering by fire.
 
     He faced up to 10 years in prison on each of the 19 felony charges.
 
     The hotel was destroyed by fire in August 2012. Several people had to jump from second-story windows to escape the blaze. No one was injured.
 
     Authorities said Thomas used a cigarette lighter to ignite a mattress because he was upset that the hotel owners had helped his girlfriend after the two had argued.