Posted on: December 29, 2023, 08:39h.

Last updated on: December 29, 2023, 08:39h.

Mohammed Mesmarian, 35, formerly of Colorado, has been sentenced to a minimum of two years in prison for crashing his car into a Nevada solar power facility and setting it on fire. Mesmarian has already spent a year in custody, so he must spend at least one more year behind bars.

Clark County District Court Judge Ronald Israel also ordered him to pay more than $200K in restitution for damage to the Invenergy-owned complex.

He apologized before his sentencing on Tuesday.

I just want to say I’m sorry to Invenergy and also, sorry to my parents,” Mesmarian told the judge. “I was not in my right state of mind. I want to thank the courts for sending me to Lakes Crossing.

That facility provides mental health treatment.

The Mega Solar Array facility is located in the desert north of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The complex provides electricity to 13 MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas.

Mesmarian’s actions damaged a transformer and other infrastructure at the facility. Power was knocked out for weeks until repairs were made.

A manager at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh was arrested for theft recently after allegedly stealing $20K from a cashier’s cage.

Yancy Yeater, 41, was seen on surveillance video on Dec. 4 taking the cash, according to authorities.

He scooped up two piles of $100 bills by using a cleaning rag, according to Pittsburgh TV station WPXI. Yeater then took the loot to a restroom where he hid it on himself before leaving the casino, the report added.

Casino security notified Pennsylvania State Police about the theft last Saturday.

Yeater was arrested that same day when he showed up for his player services manager job.

Yeater was booked at Allegheny County Jail. His case was turned over to local prosecutors.