The inmate accused of setting a fire in one of the pods of the Saline County Justice Center in early 2024 has withdrawn his not guilty pleas and admitted to two of the charges against him.

41-year-old Jonnie Jaye Grimes changed his plea to guilty Monday, Apr. 6 in a Lafayette County courtroom to charges of first-degree arson and property damage. As part of the plea agreement, a weapons possession charge was dropped. Prosecutors accused Grimes of starting a fire in the work release pod the morning of Jan. 2, 2024, causing over $1.5 million in damage. The fire and smoke resulted in deputies needing to evacuate 54 inmates and 16 officers and staff to other facilities. Deputies assisting in the evacuation say they noticed Grimes carrying an unusual amount of personal belongings with him as he awaited transfer to a neighboring county’s jail. Officers at that jail said they found a lighter on Grimes upon his arrival.

During the plea hearing Monday, the court deemed Grimes a prior and persistent offender, and ordered a sentence assessment report from the state’s board of probation and parole. A hearing is scheduled for the afternoon of May 18 to determine Grimes’ sentence.

The case had moved from Saline County on a change of venue last December.