Ferguson protester gets eight years for QuikTrip arson

ST. LOUIS – One of the more visible protesters during last year’s unrest in Ferguson has been sentenced to eight years in prison for starting a fire at a gas station during demonstrations after a fatal police shooting in nearby Berkeley.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports a St. Louis County circuit judge sentenced Joshua Williams, 19. on Thursday. Williams pleaded guilty last month to arson, burglary and stealing.

The fire at a QuikTrip was lit during protests over the killing of Antonio Martin, who was fatally shot in December by a police officer at a gas station across the street.

Prosecutors had asked for a 15-year sentence, while Williams’ attorney asked for a suspended or lesser sentence.

Williams was frequently quoted and photographed while protesting the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson.

This story was originally published December 11, 2015 at 9:47 AM with the headline "Ferguson protester gets eight years for QuikTrip arson."