A Columbia man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to throwing a Molotov cocktail at the Boone County Courthouse earlier this year. Prosecutors say 39-year-old Nicholas Walters pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree arson and resisting arrest.

He was initially charged with first-degree assault, first-degree arson, armed criminal action, resisting arrest and drug possession. The state dropped three of those charges in the plea deal.

Authorities say surveillance video captured Walters tossing a gasoline-filled jar at the courthouse entrance in January, sparking flames that narrowly missed someone leaving the building. Walters had been banned from the courthouse the previous day. No serious injuries were reported.