Arson Suspect Pleads Guilty Plea To Setting Several Fires In Tulsa

A serial arsonist has been sentenced for starting several fires and putting lives in danger.

Firefighters said they hope this sends a message to anyone thinking of setting fires in the future. Tulsa fire investigators say they caught Allen Wessel as he set fire to a home last year.

Related Story: Tulsa Fire Department Arrests Serial Arson Suspect

Now that he's pleaded guilty, investigators want everyone to know they take these crimes seriously.

"Almost two dozen in a 30-day period in a small area," said Andy Little.

All the fires happened within just a few miles near Pine and Lewis. Fire investigators said Allen Wessel set fires to homes, cars, and tires last October to November. In one instance, investigators said they caught him in the act, throwing a sock full of flammable material on a roof.

“They were on the street when he set fire, they caught him in the action," Little said.

Andy Little with Tulsa Fire Department says Wessel pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree arson and three counts of endangering a life. Those convictions are because firefighters risked their lives to put the fires out.

"In almost all these situations he pleaded guilty to, there were incendiary devices he used, that were flammable materials he would on the roof or against the house," said Little.

Little said Wessel lit one home on fire four times, and said Wessel told investigators it’s because the homeowners tried to steal from him. Little says one of the fires Wessel set was a home Wessel used to live at.

"He had been a resident of the structure, maybe there were some hard feelings there," Little said.

Wessel was sentenced to 21 years with the first 15 in prison and the last 6 suspended. Little hopes it sends a message to citizens-- that their investigators are working hard to put criminals like this away.

“We will track you down, we will arrest you, and you'll be sentenced," said Little.

Wessel will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence before he can be eligible for parole.