A Carroll man accused of purposefully igniting a residential garage on fire last year is scheduled for sentencing in August. According to Carroll County District Court records, 55-year-old Kelly Dean Warnke is charged with first-degree arson, a class B felony, for an Aug. 26, 2020 fire in the 1100 block of N. Clark Street. Authorities say Warnke poured gasoline onto the floor of the attached garage and lit it, resulting in severe damage to the home as well as a nearby residence. Documents filed in March state Warnke has agreed to plead guilty to a lesser offense, second-degree arson, a class C felony, and his plea was accepted by the court on Monday. A pre-sentencing investigation has been ordered with Warnke’s sentencing hearing scheduled for Monday, Aug. 9. A class C felony carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
