A Linn man was sentenced Thursday to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to a first-degree arson charge in connection with a fatal meth lab fire in October 2009.
Osage County Prosecutor Amanda Grellner reported Jonathan R. Tharp, 35, entered the plea and was sentenced at the same hearing.
Grellner said she dropped the second-degree murder charge she had filed against Tharp for the death of Daniel Mittenburg, 20, Clinton. Mittenburg was a Linn State Tech student who was living in the two-story structure on the north side of Linn's downtown square. Judy's Café was also located in the structure.
Grellner accused Tharp of acting in concert with Lisa Willer, 35, Linn, in starting a fire while cooking methamphetamine in an apartment above the restaurant, next to Mittenburg's.
Mittenburg died of smoke inhalation.