Meth maker who started fire gets four years in jail

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, March 31, 2005

A man who started a fire in a low-income apartment complex in December with his methamphetamine lab was sentenced to more than four years in prison Thursday for manufacturing the drug.

Matthew Rodney Warren, 20, sought a special sentencing alternative that would have given him less prison time and quicker treatment. Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Stephen Dwyer wouldn’t allow that after reading a state pre-sentence report.

Instead, the judge ordered Warren to get treatment when he completes his full prison term. Deputy prosecutor Matthew Hunter recommended the 51-month sentence.

Arlington police were called to the apartments in the 200 block of E. Burke Avenue Dec. 21 after an explosion and a small fire in units owned by Compass Health. Officials spotted items associated with making methamphetamine.

Neighbors were prevented from returning to their units for several days due to the contamination.