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Lockee sentenced to 99 months in prison for arson; assault on a female

 

TRYON—A Polk County man was recently sentenced to 99 months in prison for arson and assault on a female, according to the office of District Attorney Greg Newman.

Meko Lockee, of 411 Hugh Champion Rd., Tryon, pleading guilty to arson, breaking and entering and assault on a female, according to Newman. The plea was done during Henderson County Superior Court held on July 1-2.

Lockee was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in January this year after local fire departments responded to a fire at 411 Hugh Champion Rd., which is near Columbus.

Deputies believed Lockee, the suspect of the fire, was hiding in nearby woods and Lockee’s dog, Apollo, led officers to his owner. Apollo was later named as an honorary K-9 by the sheriff’s office for his help in the arrest.

Lockee was originally arrested on charges of second-degree arson, breaking and entering and larceny, according to sheriff’s office reports. He had been arrested earlier in January for first-degree kidnapping, assault on a female, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, larceny of a motor vehicle, larceny, communicating threats and failure to appear in court, according to sheriff reports.

Lockee was accused on Jan. 23 of putting a victim in a car, attacking her in the vehicle and attempting to leave with her in the vehicle. The victim escaped, ran to a neighbor’s house and called 911.

About a week later, Lockee was charged with setting fire to the house, according to reports.

Newman said this week Lockee will be eligible for release after he serves a minimum of 72 months in prison.