Judge Sentences Arsonist to 40 Years

Today, December 9, 2011, a judge sentenced John Leonard Morin (DOB 2/2/1963) who was found "guilty" on a felony arson charge by a Harris County jury, to 40 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice System.

In May of 2008, the Houston Arson Bureau's South sector office identified a cluster of incendiary fires occurring in southwest Houston which continued until January of 2009. Arson Investigators conducted an extensive investigation and obtained evidence linking John Morin to at least one of the fires but did not have enough evidence to file charges. Subsequently, Morin was arrested on an out of county warrant and the investigation continued leading to charges and a conviction of felony arson. The fire occurred on October 19, 2007, at 7203 Rampart.

Morin had previously been arrested and charged for felony arson by the Houston Arson Bureau in the early 1990's after a series of fire in the Gulfton area.