Former Bartlesville Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty To Arson

A former Bartlesville restaurant owner waived his right to a jury trial Tuesday in Washington County District Court after agreeing to a plea deal with the state.

Robert Boyce faced six felony charges stemming from an August 2009 fire which gutted the May Brothers building in downtown Bartlesville.

During Tuesday's court hearing, Boyce entered a guilty plea to all the charges which included second degree arson and the manufacture of methamphetamine.

With the plea agreement, Boyce faces a prison sentence of 25 years with 15 years to serve.

Boyce has been in the Washington County jail since his arrest in Florida in September 2010.

His jury trial on the charges had been scheduled to start Monday, November 28, 2011.

8/3/2011 Related Story: Trial Date Set For Man Charged With Burning Bartlesville Building

Formal sentencing for Boyce is set for November 30, 2011.