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Suffolk man pleads guilty, sentenced for series of arson fires

Posted at 7:56 PM, Oct 23, 2013
and last updated 2014-12-02 15:34:46-05

UPDATE: On December 1st, Michael Odom Smith pleaded guilty to charges of Manufacturing a Fire Bomb or Explosive Device (10 years with 7 years suspended), Arson of a Dwelling or Home (20 years with 8 years suspended), and Maliciously Throwing a Missile at Occupied Building (10 years with 8 years suspended). He will serve a total of 17 years with an indefinite supervised probation upon his release. 

Suffolk, Va. – A 29-year-old Suffolk man is facing several charges after police conducted an investigation into several arsons.

Crews say on October 20th, they received a call at 9:59 p.m. about a brush fire in the 100 block of Brittany Lane.

They say there were several suspicious fires in this area over the last six weeks.

When they arrived on the scene, they did not see any fire and they determined that the small fire was put out by a neighbor.

After an investigation, police arrested and charged the son of the neighbor who put the fire out, Michael Odom Smith.  He has been charged with reckless handling of a firearm, concealed weapon carry while intoxicated, resisting lawful arrest, possess equipment of which a fire bomb can be made with intent to manufacture fire bombs or explosives, maliciously throwing a missile at an occupied dwelling house, maliciously set fire to wood/fence/grass arson of an occupied dwelling and arson personal property.

Police say Smith was intoxicated and he had a concealed firearm during the time of his arrest.

No one was injured in the fires officials say.

This investigation is ongoing. Additional charges could be filed.