Texas Contractor Pleads Guilty to Attempted Arson

Prosecutors say a building contractor has pleaded guilty to attempted arson in an East Texas dispute over competition for methadone clinic patients.

A federal magistrate in Tyler on Wednesday accepted the plea from 54-year-old Daniel Kubisty. No sentencing date was immediately set for Kubisty, who faces up to 20 years in prison.

The owner of a Tyler methadone clinic last month pleaded guilty to attempted arson and murder-for-hire solicitation. Edwards Jacobs faces up to 20 years in prison on each count.

Investigators say Jacobs in March paid Kubisty $3,000 to burn a competitor’s clinic. Kubisty was arrested and a gasoline can was confiscated. Authorities say Jacobs then tried to hire someone to kill Kubisty to block his testimony. That person was cooperating with investigators.