Man pleads guilty in fire at St. Paul church

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Maplewood man has pleaded guilty to setting fire to a St. Paul church where his ex-girlfriend was attending a youth group meeting.

Under Monday's plea deal, 20 year-old Tou Chai Lee will get a four-year stayed sentence and six months in the workhouse. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports he will be on probation for up to 20 years, and may have to serve the four years if he violates the terms of his probation. He also will be ordered to pay $9,500 in restitution.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 13.

No one was injured when Tou Chai Lee set the fire near the front entry at Faith Alliance Church in November 2010, but about 15 people were in the church basement at the time.

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