A Vernon man whose arrest in connection with a downtown arson was sparked by social media has pleaded guilty.
Ryan Patrick Warnock, who will be 34 this year, entered the plea to a charge of arson in Vernon Provincial Court Wednesday.
Warnock was arrested after a fire at the rear of AJ’s Pets and Things at 6:30 a.m. Sept. 6.
Surveillance video posted by the store’s owner on social media – which was viewed more than 70,000 times on Facebook, and shared more than 2,500 times – showed a man appearing to start the fire.
Vernon RCMP said the video was very helpful, along with public assistance, in making the arrest.
Warnock is slated to be sentenced in Vernon Provincial Court on April 27.