Firehouse.Com News

Sixteen-year-old Eson Orozco pleaded guilty yesterday to burglary in connection with the McDonald's fire that claimed the lives of two firefighters February 14. Orozco, the night manager, received a two-year sentence.

Jorge Correa, 23, was also charged with burglary and pleaded guilty. He asked for a sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for November 20.

According to court papers and pretrial testimony, Orozco allegedly provided the burglars access to the business by giving them his keys. Authorities say that Correa helped plan the burglary but wasn't present when it happened.

The three other teens involved in the incident received sentences last week, ranging from 15 to 35 years.

Allen Gerome Davis, 17, received 15 years at the Texas Department of Corrections, Pedro Isreal Loredo, 19, received 35 years and his brother Juan Manuel Torres, 17, received 20 years. Each teenager also received $10,000 fines on each case, according to Stephanie Armand, court coordinator.

Prosecutors argued that the three burned the building to cover their tracks. Lawyers for Davis and Loredo suggested during the trial that Torres set the fire intentionally out of anger that that three didn't make the big score they anticipated.

Torres' attorney implied the blaze was accidental.

Firefighter Lewis Mayo III, a 19-year-veteran, and Firefighter Kimberly Smith, on the job since 1995, were both part of the first due fire attack team assigned to Engine 76 at the fire in the early morning hours of Feb. 14.

The veterans were killed when a roof collapsed, causing the pair to become disoriented and separated from their officer. They died from smoke inhalation.

The three teens were charged the day after the fire with felony murder and arson, and convicted last Tuesday by the same jury.

Felony murder charges were levied rather than capital -- which could have resulted in the death penalty in Texas -- because Mayo and Smith died as a result of felony being committed, rather than being direct targets.

Mayo was the father of three children ages 13 to 23. He was a soccer coach for his daughter's team and owned a lawn business on his off days.

Smith was a Combat Challenge veteran who was actively involved in her community. "Kimberly loved being a firefighter," Smith's sister, Suzette told Firehouse.Com earlier this year. "She was a dedicated and loyal member of your fraternity,"

News2Houston and The Associated Press contributed to this report.