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Richmond Hill suspect changes plea

Gary Thompson accused in fatal 2012 blast
Posted at 5:19 PM, Aug 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-12 18:02:34-04

INDIANAPOLIS -- A suspect in the Richmond Hill explosion case officially changed his plea Friday morning.

According to the agreement with the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, Gary Thompson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson and the state will dismiss all remaining counts against him.

The plea agreement was filed Tuesday.

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He will be sentenced in December to about 20 years in prison and could be released in as few as eight years. 

Thompson is the third suspect to face trial in connection with the deadly 2012 explosion.

Prior to the successful attempt to blow up a home in the Richmond Hill neighborhood, owned by alleged co-conspirator Monserratte Shirley – who has confessed to her role in the insurance fraud scheme – investigators say there were two failed attempts.

During one of those failed attempts, Thompson was allegedly offered $5,000 to assist in the scheme.

SPECIAL SECTION | Full coverage of the Richmond Hill Explosion

Thompson reportedly got scared and didn't go through with the plan, however.

Two other suspects, brothers Mark Ray Leonard and Bob Leonard Jr., have already been sentenced to multiple life sentences for their roles in the explosion.

Editor's note: This story previously stated Thompson would be sentenced Friday. He'll be sentenced in December.

READ THE PLEA AGREEMENT FOR GARY THOMPSON BELOW