A Lacomb-area man pleaded no contest to first-degree arson on Wednesday in connection with a chemical fire at the Lebanon Walmart in May that prompted evacuations and forced the store to close for nearly a week.
Joel Lee Reynolds, 50, is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 10 in Linn County Circuit Court.
During a brief hearing on Wednesday morning, defense attorney Erik Moeller said that he and the prosecution have reached an agreement under which Reynolds will serve seven-and-a-half years in prison. Judges aren’t bound to honor such negotiated settlements, but they almost always do so.