Federal authorities have announced that an Alabama man has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for setting his father’s home on fire and killing multiple pets.
Tommy Harrison Sr., aged 34, will serve 57 months in prison and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to crossing state lines to commit arson.
Court documents reveal that Harrison drove from Birmingham, Alabama to Connersville, Indiana, an eight-hour journey, to set his father’s house on fire.
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The Justice Department reported that on October 29, 2021, at 1:40 a.m., Harrison arrived at his father’s Indiana home where his father’s wife and children were present. He used gasoline to ignite the house both inside and outside.
“Video surveillance footage from the area shows Harrison parking near the victim’s house, placing a container on the ground, leaving, and then returning approximately twenty minutes later. He then repeatedly drove around the residence before backing his car into the yard,” according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
A cat and dog perished in the blaze.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers commented, “This defendant’s actions had a devastating impact on the immediate victims and the community of Connersville. His behavior disrupted a family, shattered their peace of mind, and rattled the small town where his father was a prominent figure.”
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“Crossing state lines to commit a violent crime is a serious offense warranting a significant federal prison sentence. Thanks to the efforts of FBI investigators, the Indiana Fire Marshal’s Office, and our federal prosecutor, this arsonist was identified and brought to justice,” Myers added.
The statement also mentioned that Harrison vandalized the property with a racial slur using spray paint he bought during his journey from Alabama to Indiana.
This article was originally written by James Howell Jr. on Scripps News Indianapolis.
