Guilty plea years later linked to MSU arson

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) -- A Detroit-area man has pleaded guilty to a felony and admitted he destroyed evidence after a major arson nearly 12 years ago at Michigan State University. Jesse Waters of St. Clair Shores pleaded guilty Tuesday to knowing about the arson at MSU's Agriculture Hall and concealing it. The statute of limitations for his crime kicked in years ago but Waters agreed to waive it. Federal prosecutors in western Michigan are dropping other charges involving a fire that damaged logging equipment in Wexford County immediately after the campus arson. A message seeking comment was left for Waters' attorney Wednesday. Waters was allied with Frank Ambrose and Marie Mason, who are in prison for the MSU arson and other violent environmental protests. Waters will be sentenced on Jan. 19. Published: Fri, Sep 30, 2011