On Monday, May 18, Madison County Judge Steven Boyce sentenced 25-year-old Benjamin White to five years in prison for first-degree arson.

The incident originally occurred on April 5, 2024, at the BYU-Idaho Approved Housing Jordan Ridge Apartments. According to the warrantless arrest probable cause statement, White attempted to take his own life by setting his apartment, which he shared with six roommates, on fire.

White admitted to removing the natural gas line from his apartment water heater and using isopropyl alcohol as an accelerant. He then lit a candle. According to White in the probable cause statement, the candle took too long, so he used paper towels and sheet music paper to set the living room on fire.

Detective Stephen Simper arrested White the same day, on a felony charge of first-degree arson. White later pleaded not guilty on Sep. 30, 2024.

White's bond was set to $100,000, but was later reduced to $15,000.

On March 16, 2026, White agreed to a plea agreement offered by the state. On May 18, 2026, the plea agreement was accepted.

White was sentenced to 180 days in the Madison County Jail with six days of time served. He will then serve five years in the Idaho Department of Corrections before probation. He is also sentenced to 100 hours of community service.

As of Thursday, June 4, Benjamin White is not found in BYUI's student directory.

According to BYUI's Public Affairs Director Brett Crandall, White has not been a student since 2023.