December 17, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
A Smithville man who allegedly locked his victim inside a shed and later tried to burn down a house last year has been sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
28-year-old Michael Brady McGhee, who was indicted for arson and false imprisonment, entered a plea on December 7 to arson and received a three-year sentence to serve at least 30% before his release eligibility date and he is to make restitution. McGhee has been given jail credit for 480 days already served. The false imprisonment charge has been dismissed.
McGhee was arrested by Smithville Police on July 29, 2020.
According to police McGhee committed the offense of false imprisonment on July 28, 2020, by asking his victim to go into a shed with him at the back of Pack Circle. After entering the shed, McGhee ran out and then shut and locked the door leaving the victim inside. The victim escaped by using a car battery in the shed to break out a window. Police said the next day, July 29 McGhee intentionally set three fires at the Pack Circle residence trying to burn down the house. The fires were set on the kitchen floor, on top of the kitchen table, and in the living room of the home.