Man Gets 4 to 10 Years for Lighting the Match in Pet Shop Arson
Last week we reported on the story about two individuals who set fire to a Las Vegas pet shop where 27 puppies and dogs were rescued when the building's sprinkles doused the arson fire. Gloria Lee was sentenced last week to 5 to 14 years in prison for arson, insurance fraud and attempted animal cruelty.
On Monday co-defendant Kirk Bills was sentenced to 4 to 10 years for his involvement in the case. Clark County District Court Judge David Barker said Bills acted "hand in hand" with former shop owner Gloria Lee.
"You're the one who chose to light the match," the judge told Bills. "You couldn't have possibly not known those were living creatures in these cages."
The incident sparked intense interest and protests from animal rights advocates after Lee was arrested in Las Vegas shortly after the fire. The animals became the focus of an ownership battle before they were raffled in March to raise money for local animal shelters.
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About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. The NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property-casualty insurers, self-insureds, rental car, vehicle finance, and auto auctions. To learn more, visit www.nicb.org.