A third suspect in the planned firebombing of a Freedom Township bar has entered into a plea agreement as court dates for the remaining co-defendants approach.

Joshua McClellan, 24, pleaded guilty to arson of a dwelling, arson of real property, and placing an explosive near property causing damage, court records show.

Counts of attempted murder and assault with intent to murder will dismissed at sentencing, tentatively scheduled for next month. There is no sentencing agreement, prosecutors said.

The Warren man is part of alleged arson-for-hire gang that is tied to similar incidents in Jackson and Lenawee counties in 2009. William Ferris, the alleged leader, and co-defendant James Prevost await preliminary hearings in district court.

McClellan’s deal is crafted much like those signed by brothers Joshua and Joseph Hafner-Canter in December and is entirely contingent on McClellan’s cooperation with authorities. That includes testifying at a Feb. 7 trial for co-defendant Nicholas Krause and any others involved in the case. Krause, 21, was scheduled to appear in circuit court for a pre-trial hearing today, but court is closed due to the weather.

Prosecutors allege Krause helped light a fire in the hallway of a residential area in the bar’s basement in an effort to clear people out while McClelland threw a homemade bomb at the structure. The bomb detonated on the deck and caused significant damage, but no one was injured. The bar remains open.

Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.