South Carolina ? A man accused of setting a hotel fire that killed six people in an attempt to get the attention of one of the victims was convicted Thursday of arson.

Eric Preston Hans, 37, was found guilty of one federal count of arson resulting in death in the 2004 fire at the Comfort Inn in Greenville. He showed no emotion when the verdict was read after more than eight hours of deliberations.

The jury will return Monday to hear arguments on whether Hans should be sentenced to death or life in prison.

Nearly a dozen guests also were injured in the fire, which started early Jan. 25, 2004.