Man Enters Alford Plea to Arson in Maryland House Fire

A homeowner has entered an Alford plea to first-degree arson after his home was burned in a fire last year.

Fifty-year-old John Teddy Osagie entered the plea, in which he acknowledged that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him, in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court on Monday. He was sentenced to time served, which was four and a half months.

Prosecutors say Osagie was behind on his mortgage, had substantial credit-card debt and his house-cleaning business was not doing well in the economy.

His house burned after four separate fires were set on March 14, 2009.