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New Mexico Man Accused in Quality Inn Fire Takes Plea Deal

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a 36-year-old New Mexico man accused of setting a Carlsbad hotel on fire has pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge. Travis Hayslip appeared Wednesday in federal court in Las Cruces, with the U.S. Attorney's Office saying he admitted igniting the fire that destroyed the Quality Inn Hotel as part of his guilty plea. Authorities say he will be sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison under the plea agreement that also requires he pay $2.4 million in restitution to Choice Hotels. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Hayslip, who is from Carlsbad, was arrested on a federal arson charge in March for the fire that authorities say Hayslip started by using a lighter to set a piece of debris on fire in a part of the hotel that was under construction. He remains in federal custody. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.