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Kansas Bar Owner Pleads No Contest to Arson

the fire at Tbones
the fire at Tbones

(AP) — The owner of a popular Hays bar and grill has pleaded no contest to aggravated arson for a fire that heavily damaged the business and damaged six other businesses last October.

Benjamin Michael Butler entered the plea Tuesday in a fire at T-Bone’s Sports Bar and Grill. Investigators say the blaze apparently started when Butler left a candle burning when he left the business.

The state’s sentencing guidelines mean Butler will likely be sentenced to two years of probation and be required to pay $350,000 restitution to the other businesses damaged by the fire.

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