39 year old Michael McLaughlin of Renville pled guilty Monday to 2nd degee arson charges for setting fire to a Renville apartment.

8 adults and 5 children were evacuated from the apartment building in the early morning hours of May 11th.

McLaughlin was found sleeping at his apartment and told investigators that he was upset because his ex-girlfirend left the bar with another man. He said he entered her bedroom at the apartment with a key he had been given earlier in the relationship, he then started a shirt on fire. At the time another resident was asleep in a bedroom next door. McLaughlin admitted to watching the fire through a window. He also told investigators that he attempted to put it out but was unsuccessful.

The State Fire Marshal assisted with investigating the scene. The female victim in the case had recieved a text message stating "ur apartment is on fire" at about 1:46 AM, records show 4 minutes later a call to 911 was made.