SUPERIOR COURT
A 2022 arson case was resolved with a guilty plea in Jones County Superior Court last week.
Michael James Authement entered a plea Jan. 25 to the charge of arson in the first degree.
District Attorney Wright Barksdale said the charges against Authement were for burning down a cabin on Round Oak Road Nov. 9, 2022. The blaze also consumed 687 acres of the Piedmont Wildlife Refuge.
The defendant was represented by Defense Attorney Larry Fouche. Barksdale represented the state, and the case was heard by Superior Court Judge Terry Massey.
Barksdale said Authement was interviewed by Investigator John Harris with the Georgia Forestry Commission. He said the defendant admitted to breaking into the cabin with an axe and setting a couch on fire.
“Mr. Authement blamed his actions on being under the influence of methamphetamine at the time the fire was set,” the prosecutor said. Authement was arrested by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office April 21, 2023. He was indicted by a Jones County Grand Jury June 6 on charges of arson of lands, arson, burglary and possession of burglary tools. At the time of the indictment, Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore said those charges came from a report from the Department of Natural Resources that included breaking into and setting a fire to a cabin on Round Oak Road that led to burning acreage on Piedmont Wildlife Refuge.
Barksdale said, after the guilty plea was entered, the Jan. 25 court proceeding moved toward a sentencing hearing. The state requested the court sentence Authement to 20 years with 15 years to serve in prison. The prosecutor said the maximum sentence is 20 years for arson in the first degree.
“Mr. Fouche asked for probated sentence. Judge Terry Massey sentenced Mr. Authement to 20 years to serve with 10 years in prison,” Barksdale said.
The sentence states the defendant is to receive credit for time served since his April 21, 2023, arrest.
The prosecutor said the defendant entered a plea to criminal attempt to commit a felony in Monroe County March 7, 2023.
Authement was originally arrested for computer pornography and enticing a child for indecent purposes. He received 10 years on probation in that case.
