A York man was sentenced to 1 ½ to 4 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to starting the fire that caused approximately $73,000 in damage to the Lancaster City Visitor Center.

Brandon S. Walburn, 32 of the 4500 block of Pleasant Valley Road, pleaded guilty to arson – endangering property, a second-degree felony; criminal mischief and risking catastrophe, both third-degree felonies; and recklessly endangering another person, a second-degree misdemeanor.

The Commonwealth agreed to not prosecute the first-degree felony charge of arson – danger of death or bodily injury and third-degree felony charge of arson – recklessly place building in danger as part of the plea deal, which was arranged by Assistant District Attorney Mark Fetterman.

Lancaster County Judge Thomas Sponaugle ordered sentence.

On December 12, 2021, at approximately 3:02 a.m., the Lancaster City Fire Department and Lancaster City Bureau of Police were dispatched to the first block of W. King Street for the report of a building fire. First responders discovered the fire had started at a portable toilet and was spreading to the Lancaster City Visitor Center.

Firefighters extinguished the fire and discovered damage to the Visitor Center totaling $73,391.03. The portable toilet damages were estimated at $2,307. Walburn must pay a total of $87,044.16 in restitution.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Detective Toby Hickey filed charges and investigated the case, obtaining and analyzing video footage from multiple locations in downtown Lancaster to track Walburn as the person responsible for deliberately setting the fire.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean McBryan, semcbryan@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @SeanMcBryanLanc.