YOUNGSTOWN — Justin R. Bowman, 40, of Youngstown, was sentenced to 3 to 4 1/2 years in prison Friday for an episode at the Days Inn in Boardman in May 2021 in which his motel room filled with smoke and he was found to have chemicals used to make methamphetamine with him when he left the motel.

The May 11, 2021, incident led to evacuation of the motel after the smoke triggered the fire alarm.

Bowman received his sentence from Judge Maureen Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, who also ordered that Bowman pay restitution of $3,271 for damage to the motel room.

Bowman pleaded guilty earlier this month to aggravated arson, illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, inducing panic and aggravated drug possession.

Bowman has been in the Mahoning County jail since the incident.

Boardman firefighters responded to the motel for a fire alarm. Authorities later found items used to cook methamphetamine in a black trash bag that Bowman reportedly took with him from his motel room. The bag was found in the foliage outside of the motel. Among the items in the bag were a drug used to make methamphetamine, prosecutors said.

A witness said they saw Bowman leaving the room carrying the black bag after motel personnel went to the room to investigate the fire alarm.