LOGAN — A 34-year-old Nibley man has confessed to starting a fire in his mother’s house and other criminal charges. Christopher L. Lesco tearfully accepted a plea deal that could likely send him to prison.
Lesco appeared in 1st District Court Monday morning. As part of the resolution agreement, he pleaded guilty to aggravated arson, a first-degree felony; and attempted violation of a protective order, a class A misdemeanor. As part of the agreement, prosecutors dropped the remaining charges against him, under the condition that he pay restitution to his mother, for crashing her car.
On March 3, Lescoe was involved in a hit-and-run crash in Logan, while driving his mother’s vehicle. When his brother and mother confronted him about the accident, he became combative and barricaded himself inside her home.
While inside, Lescoe started the house on fire in an attempt to take his life.
Deputies outside the home attempted to negotiate with Lescoe. They witnessed him moving furniture around and lighting the interior curtains on fire.
Lescoe eventually exited the home through the garage. He was treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation and a laceration to his arm. He was transported to the Mental Health Unit at Logan Regional Hospital for treatment and later arrested.
During Monday’s court appearance, Cache County deputy attorney Spencer Walsh said luckily no one was hurt in the crash and house fire. He explained that in June, Lescoe also texted his ex-wife, sending her a photo that violated a protective order.
Lescoe cried as Judge Thomas Willmore asked him if he was willing to give up his rights in exchange for pleading guilty. He also told the court that he understood his plea carried a possible prison sentence of five-years-to-life.
Lescoe was ordered to remain in jail. His sentencing was scheduled for August 12.