A man entered a guilty plea in Carbon County court on Thursday to his part in an arson fire in Weatherly that authorities said caused over a $1 million in damages and left six people homeless.

David Alzugaray-Lugones, 51, an inmate in the county prison with no permanent address, pleaded to one count of arson-danger of death or bodily injury, a felony. He admitted his part in a fire that occurred around 2:40 a.m. on Aug. 6, 2016, at a residence at 234 Third St. Also charged in the incident was Felix Larrinaga-Sanchez, 45, and Roberto Torner, 48. No one was seriously hurt in the blaze. Property damage resulting from the blaze totaled more than $1 million. The house was vacant at the time, but the fire quickly spread to the surrounding homes, which were occupied.

Alzugaray-Lugones formerly owned the house, but sold it to his employers, Torner, and Liza Robles, in 2014. Torner collected $245,000 in an insurance payout from the blaze. As a result of an investigation by borough police, Torner was charged for his part in the fire. Investigators said Torner was the “mastermind” in case. After the being arrested for the Weatherly incident he was charged in federal court and in February 2020, after a trial in which he was found guilty, he was sentenced on charges of drug trafficking, firearms and explosive charges, to serve 270 months in a federal prison.

The cases involving Torner and Sanchez, who testified for the prosecution at a preliminary hearing, against Torner, and is free on bail, are still pending.

Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted the plea but deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report. Sentencing as scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 15.

Alzugaray-Lugones’ plea was conducted with the use of a Spanish interpreter.