Firefighter pleads guilty to setting forest fires

The Corbin man, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in March, pleaded guilty Tuesday to setting fires in the Whitley County portion of the Daniel Boone National Forest.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Hanley A. Ingram accepted the single-count, guilty plea for setting fire to land under the exclusive control and jurisdiction of the United States, from Michael L. Luttrell, 20, a former Woodbine volunteer firefighter.

 The agreement states that on about March 20, Luttrell set several fires, which eventually burned together, to timber, underbrush, grass and other inflammable materials along the Whippoorwill Trail part of the forest in Whitley County.

 The blaze destroyed more than 100 acres of land in the national forest.

 Luttrell admitted his guilt in a post-Miranda interview.

 A schedule for sentencing has yet to be determined, but Luttrell faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He could also be made to pay restitution for any damage caused.