MUSKEGON, Mich. — The man who caused millions of dollars in damage by setting a fire at the newly-renovated Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore learned his sentence in court Monday.
Bruce Potter apologized for his actions during his sentencing hearing.
Judge Matthew Kacel handed him an 11-month prison sentence with 100+ days served.
Potter was also ordered to pay back more than $5 million in damage.
His lawyer said issues with his mental health and sobriety are what led up to him setting the fire.
Once Potter serves his jail time, he will be sent to an inpatient program and be on probation for two years.
During the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, police said the suspect set fires inside the facility beginning in the clubhouse and fitness center area.
A $30,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest.
After nearly three months of investigating, Potter was arrested in November 2023 for the crime.
"We're grieving a loss, this was our clubhouse, this was going to be our building for the community and our youth," said Monica Turnbull, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club. "And so it's so devastating for us."
The Boys and Girls Club of the Lakeshore launched a multi-million dollar project to update the property with a climbing wall, a STEM lab, an artist studio, a teen lounge, game rooms, a cafeteria and more.
Work on the clubhouse had been scheduled to be completed by fall 2023, and was set to hold an open house on Thursday, Aug. 24.
However, due to the damage, they're pushing back their reopening celebrations. Officials now expect the repairs and finishing touches to be completed in six months to a year.
The bulk of repairs come from soot and smoke. The 90,000-square-foot building will need all new air handlers for its geothermal system.
13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke to Muskegon County prosecutor DJ Hilson, who is also president of the board for the Boys and Girls Club, after the arson took place.
"Unfortunately, this incident has delayed our ability as an organization to open this up to the kids and to the community," said Hilson.
But this inconvenience isn't going to stop the organization from reaching its goals.
“You know, certainly if the person's attempt was to try and stop Boys and Girls Club from serving the youth of this community, that is not going to happen," said Hilson. “We'll be working with our contractors and our insurance company to make sure that any damage is taken care of, and that construction will proceed.”
Donations can be made on their website here.
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