Arsonist sentenced for 2016 Wicomico County fires

Deputy State Fire Marshals say two separate arson investigations are now complete with the conviction and sentencing of a Wicomico County man.

24-year-old Kevin Leonard Scott Bethard of Fruitland entered a guilty plea a count of attempted first degree murder and two counts of first degree arson.

Bethard was sentenced to life in prison with all but 10 years suspended on the charge of attempted first degree murder and five years for both first degree arson charges, meaning his total sentence to serve will be 20 years.

Fire marshals say the first arson happened in the early morning hours of March 25, 2016 when Bethard started fires in an occupied home in the 28000 block of White Pond Drive in Salisbury. Smoke alarms woke up the occupant inside and he escaped without injury, however a pet cat died in the fire. Marshals say fire damage was estimated at $250,000.

The second arson committed by Bethard happened less than two hours later at an unoccupied mobile home in the 7000 block of Madeline Circle in Parsonsburg. The damage in this fire cost around $13,000, officials said.