Tennessee Inmate Confesses to Setting Johnson City Blaze

Johnson City, Tennessee, fire officials say an inmate in the Greene County jail has admitted setting a fire that destroyed a large portion of a downtown city block in April.

Fire Chief Paul Green told the Johnson City Press that 25-year-old Richard C. Carver was indicted in the April 13 fire that destroyed four buildings, including an unoccupied apartment building, in Johnson City.

Carver was being held in jail on an unrelated theft charge when he was indicted by a grand jury earlier this month.

Fire Marshal Lori Ratliff said Carver confessed to setting the blaze and was charged with one count of aggravated arson