White Elk Motel Arson Suspect Pleads Guilty

Barry Lee Murphy, 48, pleaded guilty Tuesday to setting a fire in December at the that damaged a second-story unit.

As a result of the first-degree arson charge, the Howard County State's Attorney's Office said it plans to recommend a 10-year flat sentence and restitution to the motel and Murphy's girlfriend.

The maximum sentence for a first-degree arson charge, which is a felony, is 30 years and up to $50,000.

Howard County Circuit Court Judge William Tucker agreed at the hearing Tuesday to cap the sentence at 10 years.

According to charging documents, Howard County police were dispatched on a trespassing call at the White Elk Motel at 8:46 p.m. on Dec. 26 after a guest notified the desk clerk that Murphy—who had been banned from the premises—was on the property.

While trying to locate Murphy, police said they noticed smoke coming from a second-story unit at the motel, according to charging documents.

In Howard County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Howard County prosecutor Ned Curry said that Murphy had been dating a woman who lived on the second floor of the motel in an "on again, off again relationship" that spanned five years.

Murphy was upset by the fact that his girlfriend, who had been living at the White Elk for two years, resided with two men, said Curry.

Curry read a “statement of facts” that attributed to Murphy words of jealousy, such as: "He expressed to [his girlfriend] on several occasions that he did not want her living at the White Elk and he was going to burn that place down."

Murphy shook his head in court Tuesday as Curry read things that he reportedly said.

Police in connection with a Dec. 26 domestic assault. Police said they found him at a homeless encampment across the Baltimore County line.

He was taken into custody at the Howard County Detention Center for allegedly kicking his girlfriend outside the Route 1  on Dec. 26, according to officials. After the alleged assault, Murphy's girlfriend "retrieved some clothes and left the area to hide from Murphy...[who] told her she was not going back to the motel, because he was going to burn it down," said Curry.

Murphy has remained at the Howard County Detention Center since Dec. 27.

Before Murphy signed the plea agreement, his attorney, Diane Patton, noted that Murphy pleaded guilty to the first-degree arson charge and the defense agreed with findings by the state, “with the exception of statements made by Barry [Murphy] with respect to [his girlfriend]" regarding jealousy.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 16.

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