ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, Ill. — Another man has pleaded guilty to his role in a fire at the Rock Island Livestock Auction Barn.
On Friday, Oct. 18, 21-year-old Matthew E. Wooddell pled guilty to arson for his role in the fire. In exchange, other charges of felony criminal damage to property and animal torture relating to the fire were dropped.
Wooddell will be sentenced on Jan. 6, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
One of the other two suspects in the case, 19-year-old Kadon Svec, previously pled guilty to arson and was sentenced to three years in prison. 23-year-old William T. Kosgard IV pleaded not guilty in March and is awaiting trial.
The fire took place on Feb. 24 and destroyed the former Rock Island Livestock Auction Barn Multiple buildings on the property were total losses and one bull died. The suspects were identified through an arson investigation by the Rock Island Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division and the Rock Island Fire Marshal's Office.
