MASON COUNTY, Texas — The man accused of intentionally setting fire to the century-old courthouse in Mason County will now serve decades in prison.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety documents, 45-year-old Nicholas Miller was arrested and charged in connection with the February 2021 fire that resulted in around $20 million in damage to the courthouse.
Miller faced two first-degree felony arson charges, as well as a state jail felony burglary charge, a third-degree felony unlawful possession of a firearm charge and a state jail felony unauthorized use of a vehicle charge.
Miller was convicted on all five charges on Feb. 28, 2024. For each arson charge, he was sentenced to 75 years in prison, to be served concurrently. He was also sentenced to 10 years for the unlawful possession of a firearm charge and two years each for the burglary and unauthorized use of a vehicle charges. Those will also be served concurrently.
Mason County has been working to repair the damage to its courthouse for more than three years. In April 2023, the courthouse finally received a new cupola, sometimes referred to as a crown.