PARKERSBURG — A man accused of trying to set a house on fire was sentenced to two years in prison Thursday.

DeShawn Derese Nelson, 49, in custody at the North Central Regional Jail, was sentenced by Wood County Circuit Court Judge Jason Wharton. He had previously entered an Alford plea, in which a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence to convict, to the charge, which stems from a July 2017 incident. According to court records, Nelson was in an altercation with multiple people in a 1512 20th St., Parkersburg, residence and set items in the basement on fire.

A defense motion for home confinement was denied by Wharton. The prosecution objected to the motion, noting that Nelson had been arrested on a new charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Also in Wharton’s court Thursday:

* A motion was granted to allow for further evaluation of the ability of Eddie L. Cunningham, 33, of Parkersburg, to regain competency.

Cunningham is charged with negligent homicide, driving while in an impaired state causing death and third-offense driving on a suspended/revoked license in the November 2017 death of Natasha Treadway.

* Billy Vance Hacker, 46, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit breaking and entering. Following a motion for alternative sentencing and probation, the case was referred to the adult probation office and sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. March 4.

As part of a plea agreement, three counts of petit larceny and counts of breaking and entering, destruction of property and grand larceny were dismissed.

* Mary M. Mitchell, 28, of Parkersburg, was accepted into the Wood County Drug Court and her sentence on a charge of conspiracy to commit fraudulent use of an access device was deferred until she completes the program.