MANHATTAN — A former employee has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for starting a fire at a lumber company in Manhattan. William Joseph Willox, 23, Manhattan, was also ordered to pay more than $600,000 in restitution, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. He pleaded guilty to one count of arson. Two and a half years ago, Willox started a fire that destroyed two warehouses at Griffith Lumber Company in Manhattan. Prosecutors said that when Willox returned insulation to the second floor of a warehouse, he stayed to look at a magazine. He decided to light the magazine on fire, discarded it near stacked insulation and walked away. Grissom said within 10 minutes, the warehouse was engulfed. The fire, driven by winds up to 40 miles an hour, quickly spread to a second warehouse.
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 7 a.m.
