Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Arson suspects sentenced

BY AUTUMN PENNINGTON

In March of 2001 two Gurdon men were arrested and charged in connection with the M&M Enterprise fires.

At the time of the arrests, it was reported the pair had been charged with commercial burglary with other charges pending.

Since that time Wade Brown, who was 19 at the time of his arrest, has been sentenced to 20 years in Grimes Unit of the Arkansas Department of Corrections. However, Brown will be eligible to go before the parole board in September of 2007.

Brown was sentenced 120 months for commercial burglary, 240 months for residential burglary, 240 months for arson, 72 months for arson and another 72 months for arson.

Brown's alleged partner in crime during the arson spree was Jerome D. Rogers who was 30 at the time of his arrest.

Rogers was recently sentenced to 25 years with the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Rogers was given 72 months for a probation violation against a 2nd degree battery charge, 60 months for commercial burglary, 60 months for residential burglary, 240 months for arson and another 72 months for arson.

Rogers will be eligible to go before the parole board in July of 2007.