Teen sentenced for school fire

EMINENCE, Mo. -- A southwest Missouri teenager has been sentenced to seven years in prison in a burglary and fire that damaged Eminence High School.

Justin E. Pritchett, 18, received the prison term for a second-degree burglary charge during his Monday court appearance.

The judge suspended imposition of sentence on charges of second-degree arson, first-degree property damage and another unrelated burglary charge.

Pritchett lives in Eminence and was a senior at the school when the fire broke out Oct. 29, 2002.

The high school, built in 1910, was heavily damaged. There also was extensive vandalism, including the destruction of several classroom computers. The junior high school, built in 1947, also had water and smoke damage.

Authorities said they linked Pritchett's DNA to blood found near the principal's office.

A shoe print found on a pane of glass from a candy vending machine also matched Pritchett's tennis shoes. The shoe laces also were burned in half, authorities said.

Pritchett was charged in Shannon County, but the case was moved to Howell County on a change of venue. He pleaded guilty to the charges Nov. 17.