AUGUSTA — The accused ringleader in a Feb. 21 blaze that leveled a vacant Manchester farmhouse pleaded guilty Wednesday to reduced charges.

Jordan Conant, 20, of Winthrop was the final defendant to admit to his role in the Scribner Hill Road fire.

Conant, who originally was charged with arson and aggravated criminal mischief, pleaded guilty in Kennebec County Superior Court to criminal mischief and failure to control or report a dangerous fire, both misdemeanors.

The judge ordered him to serve 364 days in jail, followed by another 364-day, all-suspended sentence, and a year of administrative release. Conant would have faced potential maximum sentences of five to 30 years if convicted on the original arson and mischief charges.

Conant’s sentence was supported by District Attorney Evert Fowle and two attorneys representing Conant: Leonard Sharon and James Harrington.

“Obviously, this plea agreement has been fashioned because you did really stupid things with your friends,” Justice Nancy Mills told Conant. She said the district attorney recognized that “a Class A conviction would ruin your life.”

She urged Conant to complete the administrative release successfully, put the offenses behind him and get back to college at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Conant, who was a standout athlete at Winthrop High School and was a walk-on quarterback with the Georgia Tech Division I football team, is to begin his jail term Friday night.

Conditions of probation require Conant to work three months next spring and summer at Pine Tree Camp in Rome, where he also volunteered this summer. Conant has paid $13,288 in restitution.

He also was ordered to continue counseling with a doctor in Georgia.

Conant apologized to the judge Wednesday.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I made a terrible decision. It was completely out of character for me.”

Harrington told Mills, “It is highly unlikely you’ll see Mr. Conant again in the court system.”

In presenting the evidence, Fowle told the judge that none of the eight people who were at the fire had criminal records.

Fowle said that the farmhouse’s owner, Lendall Dudley, has been fully compensated for his loss. He said Dudley also was in agreement with the dispositions of all of the cases.

Conant also was accused of involvement in a fire at a mobile home Feb. 20 in Livermore Falls. Fowle said Conant faced a charge in Androscoggin County in connection with that fire and was ordered to perform 20 hours of community service.

Fowle told the judge Conant was the ringleader in setting the fire. He said a forensic evaluation done on Conant “indicated he’s a low risk for any kind of recidivism.”

“This came as a shock and surprise to people who knew Mr. Conant,” Fowle said.

Conant received the longest sentence of the eight defendants in the Manchester arson case.

Christopher Minor, 19, of Winthrop, pleaded guilty June 9 to reduced charges of criminal mischief and failure to control or report a dangerous fire. He was sentenced to 364 days in jail, followed by one year of administrative release.

Chandler White, 18, of Livermore, pleaded guilty July 1 to a felony charge of aggravated criminal mischief. He was placed on deferred disposition for 15 months. If he complies with the terms of that disposition, he’ll be able to withdraw his plea and have the offense reduced or dismissed.

The five juvenile defendants were sentenced to between 10 and 30 days at a youth correctional center in Charleston.

In all, the three adults paid almost $40,000 in restitution. The five juveniles were ordered to pay almost $5,000 each.

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