Library Arsonist Sentenced To Nearly 11 Years In Prison

ST. CLOUD - The man who started the fire at the St. Cloud Public Library has been sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison. A Stearns County judge sentenced Jorge Ozornia Monday to a 129 month prison sentence, and he was ordered to pay nearly $957,000 in restitution.

Ozonia had plead guilty in September to first-degree arson for the August 17th fire.

According to the criminal complaint, a library employee noticed Ozornia tearing pages from a book and feeding a fire that was burning a seat cushion. The witness told the responding officer the suspect told her to call police. Another witness also saw Ozornia using a book to fan the flames and was also told to call police.

When an officer arrived on scene Ozornia held his hands out as if to be handcuffed. The officer asked Ozornia if he started the fire and he said he had.

The library reopened earlier this month.