A man who admitted to starting a fire below the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences in Nelson is now serving jail time.
Daniel Wagner-Verkerk, 20, of Creston confessed to the crime which occurred in October 2014. He was identified during the investigation as a suspect and arrested and charged with arson three months later.
He pled guilty and was sentenced to 20 months, but that was reduced to 15 months with time served.
The fire started in the basement and storage area below the school. There are two apartments above the area where the fire started, but all occupants got out safely. Damage was estimated at $25,000.