PULLMAN, WA – The 40-year-old Pullman man accused of starting October’s large apartment building blaze while high on methamphetamine has pleaded guilty in state court to avoid federal prosecution.

Elijah Reagan pleaded guilty Friday in Whitman County Superior Court to 1st degree arson and eluding. In return for the guilty pleas the U.S. Department of Justice will not pursue a federal case against Reagan.

The blaze erupted at an apartment building on Military Hill on October 5th. City of Pullman Fire Marshal Darren Jones determined that Reagan lit a mattress on fire inside his apartment. After the fire was started a fireworks mortar round went off inside his unit and exploded through the ceiling. The blaze quickly spread forcing 30 people to evacuate from the18 unit building. An elderly person with a walker needed help from neighbors to escape the flames.

Reagan fled the scene and led local law enforcement on a car chase which ended South of Uniontown when his tires were spiked by officers. Reagan then engaged in an armed standoff with police. He was eventually arrested by the Whitman County SWAT Team. No one was hurt during the incident. The blaze displaced dozens of residents.

Reagan apologized in court on Friday before he was sentenced. You can hear some of is apology at the link below.

The standard sentencing range in this case as required by Washington state law is between 26 and 34 months in prison. The prosecutor’s office asked that Reagan receive the maximum sentence. Reagan’s public defender asked for the bottom of the range.

Judge Roger Sandberg sentenced Reagan to the maximum of nearly three years in prison saying he had no choice given the severity his crimes. You can listen to Judge Sandberg issue the sentence at the link below.

Reagan was also ordered to pay 1.2 million dollars in restitution. Judge Sandberg admitted that it’s unlikely that Reagan will be able to pay that amount. He did order that Reagan pay his neighbors whose homes were destroyed before he starts paying the insurance company for the cost of damage.

Reagan initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. A mental evaluation showed that Reagan is sane but noted that he has diminished mental capacity primarily because of drug use.
Pullman FD Public Information Offices Meghan Ferrin says the heavily damaged apartment building is still unable to be occupied.