Convicted arsonist gets more prison time

A Chattanooga man previously convicted of first-degree murder in an arson that killed his mother was sentenced to an additional 23 years Monday on an aggravated arson conviction.

Joshua Olandus Wells, 33, was sentenced in July to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 50 years. Now the earliest he could be released is at age 105, the Chattanooga Fire Department said in a news release.

In court Monday, Wells maintained his innocence in the 2016 fire and accused investigators of being out to get him, saying they coerced witnesses.

“You strike me as someone who kind of lives in their own reality,” Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson said ahead of the sentencing.

Firefighters found Kimberly Wells unconscious on the floor of her Rubio Street home when responding to a house fire around 5:30 a.m. on July 13, 2016. She was airlifted to a burn center for treatment but died.

On Monday, Wells testified that the loss of his mother devastated and traumatized him.

“She was all I had,” Wells said. Wells attempted suicide after his mother’s death, according to statements made in court.

During cross-examination, Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp asked Wells if he had any remorse.

“You’re asking me if I have remorse for something I didn’t do,” Wells said, adding that he did feel remorse for some of the charges against him.

During their statements, prosecutors asked the state to consider remorse when imposing a sentence on Wells.

“Not only do we have a defendant that wants to take zero responsibility, but blames others,” Wamp said.

Wells is facing a dozen unrelated criminal charges that include robbery, possession of a firearm with a felony conviction and possession of fentanyl for resale and is due to appear in court Jan. 10.