Lunceford Enters Guilty Plea To Arson

Baldwin County businessman Tommy LuncefordJr. has entered a "best interests" guilty plea to arson involvinga fire that destroyed his own building off Alabama Highway 59 inGulf Shores.

By: Katie Hammond | WKRG-TV
Published: September 22, 2009

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(AP) - Baldwin County businessman Tommy Lunceford
Jr. has entered a "best interests" guilty plea to arson involving
a fire that destroyed his own building off Alabama Highway 59 in
Gulf Shores.
The plea allows the 63-year-old former Auburn football player to
acknowledge that prosecutors could have proven their case without
admitting that he set the fire.
Prosecutors agreed to recommend a five-year prison sentence -
the minimum under the law - and will allow Lunceford to withdraw
his plea if U.S. District Judge William Steele does not accept the
recommendation.
Assistant federal defender Fred Tiemann, representing Lunceford,
cited his client's poor health.
Court documents that accompany the plea agreement described
Lunceford as a "principal or aider and abettor" to the fire that
ripped through Nick's Restaurant on Nov. 8, 2007.
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