Man gets 10 years for library arson in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH

Tyrone D. Taylor, found guilty of the Christmas 2010 arson of the Portsmouth Public Library's main branch, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday, according to state court records.

Circuit Judge Johnny E. Morrison found Taylor, 35, guilty Aug. 9 after hearing evidence that included a recording of a police interview. Taylor, who was homeless, told police he was angry that he was kicked out of the library and that he snapped that morning. The downtown library has been closed since the fire.

Taylor was given the maximum sentence. In September, he was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison for the Jan. 3 sexual assault of a woman.