Harrison pleads guilty to burning down VP home

Last Thursday, in Distict Judge Gary Ortego’s courtroom Patravey Anna Harrison pled guilty to simple arson.
Harrison was arrested on April 29, 2016 after becoming a suspect in the April 21st burning of the Dupre house, located at the corner of South Dupre and Main Street in Ville Platte.
The 19-year-old first became a suspect in this case after a witness to Harrison’s actions provided Deputy State Fire Marshal Roman Ray with incriminating text messages that Harrison had sent to the witness.
One text message read, “Please I don’t want to go to jail or you or ruin our friendship I’m Scared I should of never lied to you but I needed a place to stay. I didn’t mean to burn the house it was just a joke,” while another read, “Please delete these text messages.”
According to an affidavit, the witness, who was with Harrison when the fire began, explained that the fire started at the 77-year-old house after Harrison dropped a lit candle, which then rolled under a couch and was left there.
Harrison was initially charged with simple arson and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, but for entering a plea of guilty the State dismissed the charge of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.
For committing the crime of simple arson, Harrison was sentenced to eight years at hard labor, six of which were suspended, and five years of active supervised probation upon her release from jail.
Harrison will also have to pay a $2,000 fine, $127.50 for court cost, $350 to the indigent defender board, $250 for cost to the prosecution, $100 to the warrant fund, and $50 to the victim fund.
Harrison, who never bonded out of jail, will be given credit for time served.