GREENUP —
The operator of a South Shore farm supply store destroyed by fire in December 2010 has pleaded guilty to torching the building.
Bryan Simpson, 47, of South Shore, last week entered guilty pleas in Greenup Circuit Court to charges of second-degree arson and tampering with physical evidence, said Boyd Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason Greer, who served as special prosecutor in the case.
In pleading guilty, Simpson agreed to accept a 10-year sentence on the arson charge and a five-year term on the tampering charge, with the latter to run concurrently with the arson sentence, Greer said.
Under state sentencing guidelines, Simpson will be eligible for parole after serving 20 percent, or two years, of his sentence. However, studies have shown that Kentucky offenders rarely make parole the first time they seek it.
Judge Bob Conley set Simpson’s final sentencing for Sept. 20.
The charges against Simpson stem from the Dec. 27, 2010, blaze that leveled Cooke’s Farm Supply, which had stood at the corner of Main Street and James Hannah Drive for 74 years.
According to the Kentucky State Police, Simpson was inside the building when the fire started and was the one who called 911 to report the structure was on fire.
The KSP’s investigation of the blaze revealed Simpson had been stealing merchandise from the business for some time and set the fire to destroy the records showing the missing inventory.
Witnesses reported hearing several explosions from inside the building during the fire, most likely caused by fertilizer igniting. Residents living near the building said the blasts were powerful enough that they felt them in their homes.
The fire started in the back of the building, and the primary focus for firefighters was saving the Greenup County Health Department’s South Shore Clinic to the rear of the structure. The fire did minimal damage to the health department building as well as Cash Express and Susan’s Beauty Salon, which are next door to the farm center.
Five fire departments battled the blaze.
The building had been a part of South Shore since 1926. It was built by Sam M. Roberson, whose store sold groceries and dry goods, as well as toys in the basement at Christmas.
Roberson’s closed in the 1970s. However, many longtime residents still remember the store and how Roberson would allow people who were suffering financial hardship to charge items there.
KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.
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