For arson that killed daughter, Paynesville dad gets 18 years

A Stearns County judge on Friday sentenced a Paynesville man to 18 years in prison for setting fire to a mobile home and killing his daughter.

John S. Newport, 48, was charged with second-degree murder for the death of his daughter, 22-year-old Jamey M. Newport, who died two years ago this month.

In April, Newport pleaded guilty to the sole felony charge of unintentional murder in the second degree while committing felony arson; he also admitted to aggravating factors, which allowed for the 18-year sentence — a departure of three years above sentencing guidelines, according to the court.

Court documents say that Newport's daughter called 911 just before 7 p.m. July 23, 2019, and said Newport was dumping gasoline in the home and told her he was going to start it on fire.

An officer who arrived before firefighters heard screaming from the rear of the mobile home; he used a fire extinguisher to try to quell the flames but the home in the 400 block of Minnie Street soon became fully engulfed.

Jamey Newport was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy lists the cause of death as inhalation of combustibles and the manner of death as homicide.

Investigators found a gas can inside the home and a lighter on the ground outside. Investigators also learned Newport had been in an argument with his daughter at the time of the fire and found a social media post where Newport "expressed his intent to burn down the mobile home," court documents state.

Jenny Berg