KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — A Knox County man convicted of setting his wife’s home on fire while under court orders to stay away from her has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen announced that Roderick Jermaine McAlpin, 43, received the sentence after being convicted in June of arson, vandalism over $60,000 and aggravated criminal trespass.
According to prosecutors, the case stemmed from a July 7, 2025 incident that occurred after McAlpin had been ordered to have no contact with his wife following a previous domestic assault case.
During a two-day trial, evidence showed that while his wife was away from home, McAlpin entered the residence through a bedroom window and intentionally set four separate fires in three different bedrooms.
The resulting blaze caused significant damage before firefighters were able to bring it under control.
The Knoxville Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. Arson investigators later determined the blaze caused approximately $137,000 in damage to the home.
Roderick Jermaine McAlpin sentenced for setting wife’s house on fire (WVLT)
Prosecutors said the investigation and subsequent trial established McAlpin’s responsibility for the fire, leading to his conviction on all charges.
“Thanks to the expertise of our arson investigators, we were able to hold this offender accountable,” Allen said following the sentencing announcement.
Court records also show this was not McAlpin’s first felony conviction. According to Allen’s office, he has two prior convictions for drug dealing, a factor that contributed to his lengthy sentence.
The 20-year sentence closes a case that prosecutors say involved both a violation of a court-issued no-contact order and a deliberate act that placed property and potentially lives at risk.
Officials said the case underscores the importance of enforcing protective orders and aggressively prosecuting arson offenses involving domestic violence situations.
