Three Lincoln County men received five years probation for theirrole in the June 2002 arson of an old Bogue Chitto school buildingin circuit court Friday.

Justin Bales, 19, of 2860 Teardrop Lane; James Nathan Martin,20, of 3090 Melvin Mason Road; and Matthew Estus McGraw, 19, of3158 Pleasant Grove Road, faced sentencing before Judge Mike Smithafter pleading guilty to third degree arson earlier this month.They were charged in the destruction of the Old Sweetwater Schoolbuilding on June 9 of last year.

Elizabeth Dyer, who owned the building with her husband R.E.”Sonny” Dyer, told the court she was sorry the men got in troubleand hoped they could change. She said she has set up an account tobuild a chapel using the restitution the men were expected topay.

“I want something good to come from something bad,” Dyersaid.

When given the chance to speak, the men apologized for theircrime.

Bales, who had to be told several times to speak up, said thegroup was trying to burn rats, but the building caught fire. McGrawand Martin said they were willing to help in the clean up.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right with her,”McGraw said.

Smith sentenced the men to five years probation and warned theywould be “off and running” to the penitentiary if they violatedit.

In monetary penalties, they were each ordered to pay $1,000fines, $1,000 to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund and theirportion of $10,300, the appraised value of the building. Smithordered 10 percent of their monthly pay to be put toward therestitution.

McGraw and Martin were ordered to serve 40 hours toward cleaningup the building site. In accordance with Dyer’s wishes, Bales wasto stay away from the property and was ordered to perform 40 hoursof community service with Brookhaven Outreach Ministries.

In other court action, Carl Washington, 21, of 2125 Dixie Road,was ordered to serve five years of a total eight-year sentence inan unsuccessful armed robbery of a convenience store in June.Nothing was taken, but Washington brandished a stick in the robberyattempt.

“We can’t have folks running around holding folks up,” Smithtold Washington.

The remaining two years of Washington’s sentence was to beserved on five years post release supervision. He was also orderedto pay a $500 fine, $1,000 to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund,to get alcohol and drug treatment and to attend weekly NarcoticsAnonymous meetings for a year following his release.

Linda Seawood, 43, of 1891 Pleasant Ridge Road, was ordered toserve the first three years of a total eight-year sentence forunlawful transfer and unlawful possession of cocaine.

The remaining five years were to be served on post releasesupervision. She was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine andrestitution, to obtain long-term alcohol and drug treatment and herGED.

George Brown, 24, of 126 North Jackson St., was ordered to servethe first two years of a five-year sentence on a possession ofstolen property charge. The final three years were to be served onpost release supervision, and he was also ordered to pay a $1,000fine and $230 restitution.

Chauncy Watson, 30, of Jackson, pleaded guilty Friday to felonyshoplifting. He was sentenced to three years and ordered to serve54 days, which was the amount of time he spent in jail followinghis arrest.

The remainder of the sentence will be on post releasesupervision. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, $500 to theCrime Victims Compensation Fund and to perform 200 hours ofcommunity service.