[1]Jonathan P. Brown heads back down to the jail after pleading guilty to attempted murder.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A 26-year-old Centralia man pleaded guilty this morning to two counts of attempted murder, in connection with setting a fire in his home while his mother and grandfather were sleeping earlier this year.
Jonathan P. Brown admitted to a detective to starting a fire in his bedroom, opening a window to help it “breathe” and then heading down the street planning to ignite more fires until he was caught, according to charging documents. But his lighter broke and police found and detained him that morning.
Today’s action came out of a plea agreement finalized late last week, Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead said. Halstead said the details would come at sentencing, which hasn’t yet been scheduled.
The standard sentencing range for Brown, given his criminal history, is roughly 20 to 32 years.
Brown has spent time in prison before for arson.
In 2009, the then-21-year-old pleaded guilty to a string of six fires and attempted fires in the Centralia area that caused or could have caused damage to buildings including a residence and a garage. He was sentenced to four and half years.
He is represented by defense attorney Don Blair.
The damage on March 23 to the family home on the 3400 block of Prill Road was limited to the bedroom.
Charging documents alleged that he doused his bed and pillows with lamp oil. His 87-year-old grandfather John Germeau and his mother were able to get out, but his mother Deborah Brown suffered burns on her hand or hands smothering burning pillows.
Brown has been held in the Lewis County Jail on $250,000 bail since his arrest. His initial charge was first-degree arson.
Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler this morning accepted Brown’s pleas and modified the conditions of release to a no-bail hold.
No family or friends were present in the courtroom.
Brown is expected back in court on Thursday to set a date for sentencing.
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For background, read “Prosecutors: Arsonist planned to continue lighting fires after leaving his burning bedroom” from Monday March 24, 2014, here [2]