Tuesday, April 3, 2012 8:15 am

James W. Hill of Liberty was sentenced to serve 25 years in the state penitentiary Monday (April 2) after he pled guilty to Attempted First Degree Murder in Cannon County Circuit Court.

Hill was accused of trying to kill Lonnie Estes of Liberty on March 16, 2010. Hill beat Estes with a cane, hit him with a chair, and while Estes was lying on his kitchen floor, Hill poured gasoline around him and set it on fire.

It all stemmed from an argument Estes was having with Hill, his mother Mary and sister Charlotte over linens and towels as the Hills were moving out of Estes’ residence in Liberty.

James Hill also pled guilty to Conspiracy To Commit Aggravated Arson and Conspiracy To Especially Aggravated Robbery. Judge Don Ash sentenced Hill to 20 years each on those charges. All three sentences will run concurrent.

He was also ordered to pay court costs. Charges of Aggravated Burglary, Escape and Theft Of Property were dismissed.

Charlotte and Mary Hill both entered best interest pleas of guilty to Facilitation To Attempted First Degree Murder, Facilitation To Aggravated Arson and Facilitation To Especially Aggravated Robbery in November and were placed on 10 years state supervised probation.

Estes received a severe laceration to his head and multiple bruises to his face and body during the incident. The Hills fled the scene and were apprehended after a 12-hour search by Cannon County Sheriff’s deputies.