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PRICE, Utah (AP) — Two people have pleaded guilty to reduced charges in the death of Brian William Swink in a 2014 Carbon County house fire.
The Deseret News reports (http://bit.ly/1LV7uy7 ) that 39-year-old Michael John Dees and 22-year-old Ashley Ann Platt originally faced charges that included murder and kidnapping. On Monday, their charges were reduced to negligent homicide and obstructing justice as part of a plea deal.
James William Pendleton Jr. has already been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the death.
Dees' attorney says Dees and Platt were afraid of Swink's erratic behavior when they locked him in Pendleton's basement.
Pendleton called 911 when Swink started a fire in the basement. He told dispatchers Swink was armed with a gun, but police say that wasn't the case and delayed rescue attempts.
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Information from: Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com
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