A 47-year-old Westville man will be spending six years behind bars for setting items inside of a grocery store on fire more than a year ago.
Michael Vermillion was sentenced Monday by Judge Mark Goodwin after pleading guilty to a Class 2 felony charge of arson. The Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s office agreed to dismiss counts of aggravated arson, burglary and criminal damage to property as part of the plea agreement.
State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy says that Vermillion was inside of Ruler Foods in Danville on October 27, 2019, when he placed toilet paper on a shelf and then set it on fire. While store employees were tending to the scene, Vermillion tried to steal money from the cash register. He admitted to Danville Police that he set the fire in order to create a distraction.
Vermillion has previous convictions for criminal sexual abuse and driving under the influence of alcohol in Vermilion County Circuit Court.
