Man Sets Tree on Fire in Sleepy Backyard | Leeds News

Leeds News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 25, 2026 · 1m

A 33-year-old man named Shane Earp set a tree on fire in someone’s backyard while the family inside—including a child and mom—were asleep. Caught on camera, he pleaded guilty to arson, but the judge dismissed his excuse about a faulty lighter. The blaze spread, damaging a fence, oven, carpet, and even breaking a window. Despite his history of drug addiction, homelessness, and recent loss of his aunt, the court held him accountable: he got three years, added to any existing sentences. The judge stressed that Earp stood by and did nothing to stop it—a chilling reminder that personal struggles…