A 20-year-old Glenelg man was sentenced to two days in jail and 200 hours of community service Thursday after pleading guilty to setting fire to Howard County police speed camera equipment.
Connor Lynn Eash, of the 13000 block of Bold Venture Drive, pleaded guilty in November to one count of malicious destruction of property and one count of attempted first-degree malicious burning for two incidents involving a speed camera device set up along the 14000 block of Burntwoods Road in Glenelg on May 22 and May 24.
According to police, at approximately 4:45 a.m. on May 22, firefighters and police responded to the device to extinguish the fire.
A replacement device was placed on the site and was put under police surveillance, according to police. Two nights later, Eash was observed approaching the camera carrying an ax, a bottle of gasoline and a lighter, police said.
Police said he fled the scene as they approached but was arrested and charged.
At the sentencing hearing in Howard County Circuit Court, the defense attorney argued for probation before judgment, saying that the behavior was "an aberration," according to State's Attorney spokesman Wayne Kirwan.
Kirwan said Eash apologized and told Judge Richard Bernhardt he made "several immature, reckless decisions."
Bernhardt sentenced Eash to five years in prison with all but two days suspended, as well as three years' probation. Eash also has to pay court costs, submit to alcohol evaluation and treatment, and perform 200 hours of community service, Kirwan said.
Eash also presented a restitution check of $15,000 to Xerox State and Local Solutions, the owner of the equipment, before the hearing.