An Oak Grove man pled guilty to an assault and arson charge Monday in Christian County with a recommended sentence of 15 years in prison pending.
Charles Smalls, who was 50 years old at the time, was charged by Oak Grove Police with intentionally pouring lighter fluid in the immediate area of his wife’s bedroom door while she was inside the room following an argument. According to police, Smalls safely evacuated the burning home while he left his wife in the burning home with no path to escape.
Police and firemen were able to get the woman out of the home, and she was flown to a Nashville hospital.
Following mediation in Christian County Circuit Judge, Smalls pled guilty to an amended charge of second-degree assault and third-degree arson. Judge John Atkins accepted the plea with Smalls to face 10 years on the assault charge and five years on the arson charge to run consecutively for a total of 15 years.
Smalls will receive his sentencing on October 11 following approval of his pre-sentencing report. He had been scheduled to stand trial in December.
