A Crittenden Circuit Court jury received the case against 50-year-old Pat Tinsley at 8:30 p.m., Thursday. It began deliberations in a small, closed room on the main floor of the courthouse, underneath the third-floor courtroom where jurors had heard more than three days of testimony.
During instructions to the jury, it was announced that the charge of arson by complicity – the most serious crime for which Tinsley faced – had been amended to facilitation to second-degree arson. It was a major breakthrough for the defense.
Facilitation to arson is a Class D felony, punishable by 1-5 years in prison. The original charge of complicity to arson is a Class B felony, punishable by 10-20 years in prison.
Tinsley is also charged with a second Class D felony, reckless homicide.
The court is in recess until the jury comes to a decision.
