Brooklyn Man Pleads No Contest to Setting Fires in Newport Walmart to Conceal Shoplifting

The Brooklyn, N.Y., man who allegedly set two fires in the Newport Walmart in February has pleaded no contest to a first-degree arson charge and could spend five years in prison.

Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin said George Reddick, 59, waived indictment and entered the no contest plea on Friday before Superior Court Justice Walter R. Stone.

Reddick is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years when he is sentenced in January but will only spend five of those years incarcerated under the terms of the plea deal.

Police said Reddick set the two fires the night of Feb. 17 -- one in the paper goods section and the second in the bath and towel aisle -- in an effort to conceal his shoplifting activities.

The store was evaucated and Newport firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, which caused a fair amount of damage to the store, forcing it to close for eight days for repairs.

Reddick has remained held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston since his Feb. 19 arrest.

Reddick turned himself in to police around 4 a.m. the morning after the investigation that involved video footage and interviews with store employees.

Reddick reportedly spent some time in the store, taking time to ask Walmart personnel for a job and even changing his clothes while inside the store before setting the fires.

The investigation began shortly after firefighters first arrived at 5:50 p.m. for a report of a fire.

Police said “this quick identification and arrest of George Reddick was the result of multi- agency participation, cooperation and teamwork. Newport Police, Newport Fire, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal worked together effectively and efficiently to ensure a successful criminal investigation.”

Newport Police Detective Danny Turmell, Jr. led the investigation, with assistance from Newport Fire Marshal Wayne Clark and Rhode Island State Fire Marshal David Curran. Special Assistant Attorney General John H. Dean prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.