COLUMBIANA – A Talladega man who formerly listed an address in Alabaster was recently convicted and will spend five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges involving an Alabaster house fire in March.

Larry Larue Davis, 37, who currently lists an address at a correctional facility in Talladega, pleaded guilty to arson in the first degree and possession of marijuana in the first degree.

He was sentenced to a total of 20 years by Shelby County Circuit Court Judge William H. Bostick III. Davis’ sentence was split, meaning he will serve five years in the Alabama Penitentiary followed by two years of supervised probation.

Bostick ruled that Davis’s sentence will run concurrently with another sentence that he is currently serving.

Additionally, Davis was ordered to pay $50 to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund, a $30 jail housing fee, a $1,000 fee under the Demand Reduction and Mandatory Treatment Acts and a $100 fee to the Forensic Science Trust Fund.

Through a plea agreement with prosecutors, an additional misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment was dismissed.

According to his November 2017 indictment, Davis intentionally set fire to the residential property of Ashley Bayley on October 9, 2010, and was found to be unlawfully in possession of marijuana “for other than personal use,” during the November incident.

Davis was initially arrested on July 17, 2013. His arson charge was issued by the Alabaster Police Department, and his possession of marijuana charge was issued by the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Bayley identified Davis as her ex-boyfriend who was living with her at the time. She described him as “extremely abusive.” She said the incident occurred after she had ended the relationship with Davis and told him to leave.

Because she was afraid of what Davis would do, Bayley said she locked herself in her car when he left her house. Once he had gathered his things and driven away, Bayley said she followed him to make sure he would not hide nearby and try to return later.

For the duration of her drive, Bayley said she was arguing with Davis over the phone. She said he informed her over the phone that he had set her house on fire.

According to Bayley, she had prior knowledge he was in possession of marijuana on her property, but felt that she could not take any preventative measures against him.

“I knew it was there, but I didn’t feel I had the power to stop him,” Bayley said.

When she initially spoke with investigators, Bayley said she was told that she would not be charged with anything. Bayley said later, she discovered there was a warrant out for her arrest on one count of possession of marijuana in the first degree. While she was able to have it reduced to a misdemeanor, Bayley said the charge made it difficult for her to find a job.

“I told them everything, I wasn’t trying to protect him,” Bayley said. “I was treated like a criminal.”

Bayley said she does not believe he was penalized as severely as he deserves.

“I’m very disappointed in the justice system,” Bayley said.

While she is debating on whether to reach out to the courts to push for a higher sentence, Bayley said she is glad to put that part of her life behind her.

“I’m glad it’s over with,” Bayley said.