DOWELLTOWN, Tenn. – A Murfreesboro man accused of setting fire to a table in the yard of a Dowelltown residence and breaking into the home where a woman and her young son were present has pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary in DeKalb County court.

Ricoryon Lamontez Henderson, 22, was sentenced to four years, with the entire term suspended to supervised probation. The sentence will run consecutively to a separate case currently pending in Rutherford County. In sentencing, Henderson received credit for 49 days already served in jail.

The incident dates back one year, occuring on April 24, 2024. It happened at a residence on Corley Street in the small DeKalb County community that's located roughly 15 miles northeast of Milton, TN. According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Henderson allegedly poured gasoline on a flowerpot, a table, and a bicycle in the yard before setting them on fire. The flames also scorched a portion of the lawn. Authorities say Henderson took a photo of the blaze and sent it to the woman inside the house, who was there with her four-year-old son.

The situation escalated when Henderson reportedly broke into the home through a bedroom window. Once inside, he allegedly stole a green and brown Michael Kors purse valued at $250. Law enforcement recovered a lighter from Henderson at the scene, and gasoline was confirmed to have been used as an accelerant. He was originally charged with two counts of assault in addition to the burglary.

No injuries were reported, but the emotional impact on the victims was said to be significant. 

Henderson is due to appear before Judge James Turner in Rutherford County on Tuesday (April 15, 2025). Locally, he’s facing a charge filed by LaVergne Police for driving on a suspended license last year. The 2024 charge was filed just 12-days after he was arrested in DeKalb County.