JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - A northeast Florida man has pleaded guilty to setting a fatal Jacksonville house fire.
Prosecutors say 52-year-old Jimmie Ray Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty Monday to murder, arson and burglary. He faces a life in prison when he’s sentenced next month.
Authorities say Cecil Ray Hepler, Patrick Bishop and John Kenney were asleep early one morning in September when a fire started. Bishop and Kenney both got out, but Helper died from burns and smoke inhalation.
Police say Jackson had a dispute with Hepler’s family since 2008, but Helper wasn’t specifically targeted.
The Florida Times-Union (https://goo.gl/8VzGy7 ) reports that Jackson had two prior arson convictions, one from Texas and the other from Pinellas County.
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Information from: The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union, https://www.jacksonville.com
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