ABINGDON — A Coeburn man accused of burning down the High Knob Observation Tower pleaded guilty to all counts Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon.

U.S. Attorney Julia C. Dudley said Nicholas Owens pleaded guilty to all charges against him filed as a result of the Oct. 31, 2007, torching of the beloved Wise County landmark as well as setting fire to another national forest facility, a campground restroom in Scott County.

Dudley said no plea agreement was involved in Owens’ guilty pleas to one count of burning buildings owned by the United States, one count of burning buildings with the special territorial jurisdiction of the United States, and one count of lying to investigators.

Last fall Owens’ co-defendant, Christopher D. Hyatt, entered guilty pleas to the same charges and cooperated with authorities in the case against Owens.

The men set fire to High Knob Tower in the early hours of Halloween 2007 and set fire to a restroom located in the Hanging Rock Recreation Area of Scott County. Both structures within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests were destroyed. Particularly devastating was the destruction of the tower, a uniquely designed popular local and tourist landmark that offered a grand view of the region.

“The senseless actions of these two men destroyed a beloved and historic structure and was a tragedy for the entire community,” Dudley said. “I am happy that both defendants have taken responsibility for their crimes. Perhaps now the community can put this behind them and continue to move forward in the effort to rebuild the High Knob Observation Tower.”

A task force created by U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th District, in late 2007 worked throughout last year to organize fund-raising and planning efforts to rebuild the tower, an ongoing enterprise. Reconstruction costs are estimated at nearly $600,000.

Owens was approved for membership in the Coeburn Volunteer Fire Department just two days before he persuaded Hyatt to join him in the Halloween arson spree. Dudley said the Coeburn VFD and the Norton Fire Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation.

Owens will be sentenced April 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Big Stone Gap.

The case was investigated by Special Agent Larry Fisher of the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, and the Norton and Coeburn Police Departments.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Ramseyer is prosecuting the case for federal authorities.