Emond Johnson, who confessed to starting a 2017 fire in his gym that led to the death of one San Antonio firefighter and injury of two others, was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday after accepting a plea deal on counts of murder and arson resulting in injury or death.
Johnson, who was a tenant at the Ingram Square Shopping Center, was accused of setting a fire in an attempt to destroy his fitness gym, The Spartan Box. That night, 83 firefighters responded to the blaze, which grew into a four-alarm fire and destroyed the nearby Texas Thrift Store and the gym.
Scott Deem, a six-year SAFD veteran, died in the fire, and firefighters Brad Phipps and Robert Vasquez suffered severe injuries.
Johnson pleaded “no contest” to the felony charges and has no right to appeal. He received 30 years for each count, to be served concurrently, in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He will be eligible for parole after serving half his sentence.
The plea hearing took place Wednesday before the 186th District Court, ahead of the original trial date that had been set for September.
When he was brought in for questioning, Johnson told investigators he had a number of eviction notices at his gym and wanted out of the lease. He confessed to setting the fire and admitted to using a disposable cigarette lighter to ignite a mixture of gasoline and oil he had spilled inside the gym.
Deem was the first local firefighter to fall in the line of duty since Jesse F. Bricker Jr. died fighting a fire in 1997, according to the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association.
Deem’s death also launched investigations by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Texas Fire Marshal’s office, which found SAFD made errors while responding to the fire, starting by approaching the commercial structure fire as a residential fire.
Deem’s family members and fellow firefighters faced Johnson at the hearing. According to television station KSAT, those who spoke during victim impact statements called Deem a hero and blamed Johnson for his death.
“Emond Johnson intentionally started a fire in his business. Today, justice is served as the Bexar County community holds him accountable,” Bexar County Criminal District Attorney Joe Gonzales said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the affected families as we seek to honor the sacrifices of these courageous firefighters.”
