HOUSTON – A man plead guilty to lighting a bar on fire after he and another man were kicked out of the establishment, officials say.
Jaime Mata, 31, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after he pled guilty to felony arson.
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Mata is one of two defendants charged in the fire at La Estrella Bar, at 8011 Harrisburgon, on April 19, 2012.
Mata and co-defendant Gabino Silva were kicked out of the bar for fighting that night, investigators said.
According to authorities, surveillance cameras caught the two barricading the front door to the business in an effort to keep other patrons from leaving.
Investigators said Mata and Silva were then seen pouring gasoline and igniting the back door of the bar.
Officials said the fire was quickly discovered and the patrons in the bar were able to escape through a third exit on the side of the building.
Silva is currently awaiting trial that is scheduled to start later this month.