A 41-year-old man was sentenced to six months in jail for setting fire to his rental home after sending a text message to his ex-girlfriend, blaming his actions on her.

Donald Wayne Eide Jr. was told by a Benton County Superior Court judge on Thursday that he can do the time on work release.

He already has served about three months of his sentence, defense lawyer Sal Mendoza Jr. told the court.

Eide pleaded guilty in December to second-degree arson for the Aug. 31 fire at 843 Court Street in Prosser.

According to Prosser police and court documents, officers and fire crews responded to the home at 7 a.m. and found the second-floor bedroom on fire.

The blaze quickly was extinguished, but not before severely damaging the home.

While officers were conducting traffic control, several witnesses approached them with information, police said.

Then while investigating the fire, officers contacted the tenant, Eide, and arrested him.

Court documents show that at 6:43 a.m. that day, Eide sent a text message to his former girlfriend, saying "I'm setting our old bed on fire now. ... I was your boy. Look what you've made now."

Prosser fire officials said they believe the fire started on or near the end of a bed in an upstairs room where Eide slept.

Eide initially told police that a candle in his bedroom fell over and started a fire, but he later said he put that fire out.

Eide admitted sending the text, but said he was "being sarcastic."

Deputy Prosecutor Terry Bloor said the victim is "the nicest guy you would ever meet" and was allowing Eide to live in his house, only to have Eide trash it.

Eide was being evicted at the time of the fire.

In court, Eide acknowledged that mistakes were made and apologized for his actions.

Felon faces firearms charge

A convicted felon is accused of firing a rifle on property where target shooting are not permitted.

Alan Edward Rosane Jr., 23, of Kennewick, pleaded innocent to one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. His trial is set March 19.

Rosane is not allowed to own or possess firearms because he previously was convicted of third-degree retail theft with extenuating circumstances, second-degree taking a vehicle without permission and bail jumping, all felonies, court documents said.

Yet, prosecutors allege that on Dec. 4, Rosane had a Norinco SKS rifle when he was discovered by Officer Jonathan Horn with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Horn allegedly found Rosane shooting the rifle from the bed of a truck on the property in Benton County. As Horn approached Rosane and Travis Gene Gill, he saw multiple shell casings in the truck bed where Rosane was standing, documents said.

In a police interview, Gill claimed the rifle belonged to him but said Rosane had been shooting it.

Rosane admitted to officers that he fired the rifle just before being contacted by Horn, court documents said. He also acknowledged that he had been advised at the time of sentencing on his previous convictions that he wasn't to possess a firearm, documents said.

Gill is set to make his first appearance Thursday on the same charge.

Woman admits she took card

A Kennewick woman pleaded guilty to taking her cousin's credit card and racking up $2,500 in charges.

Christina M. Forzaglia, 19, plead to one count of third-degree theft, reduced from first-degree identity theft.

Forzaglia reportedly made the charges between April 1 and July 2. The card's owner, who later questioned Forzaglia about the theft, did not give her cousin permission to use the card.

In court documents, prosecutors said they reduced the charge as part of a plea deal because Forzaglia had no prior criminal history and agreed to pay $1,000 up front in restitution. She still owes $1,000, documents show.

Prosecutors also said Forzaglia was "extremely cooperative" when first confronted by police, admitting she made the purchases and knew it was wrong.

Forzaglia was sentenced to two days in jail with 362 days suspended.

That means she might have to serve more time on this case if she violates any of her conditions or gets in trouble again in the next year. Otherwise, she can return to court next January to have the conviction vacated and dismissed.