55-year sentence for man who took ‘selfies’ at arson site

Last July, a 27-year-old set fire to a home in Glen Burnie, Maryland, after learning that his girlfriend had a sexual encounter with a man who lived in the home. According to court filings, the man “freaked out,” and began to hit himself in the face. “Someone’s gonna die tonight, ” he told his girlfriend.

The man and his girlfriend were drinking when this occurred and the man had also taken Xanax that night. When he went to set the house on fire, he didn’t know that the man his girlfriend had told him about wasn’t there. Instead, there was a man, woman and a 15-year-old girl in the home. All three escaped the blaze, but the house was a total loss and their cat didn’t make it out alive.

The man who set the fire returned to take “fire selfies” on his cellphone. He recently pleaded guilty to arson, attempted murder, malicious burning, assault, reckless endangerment and malicious destruction of property. A 65-year sentence was handed down by the judge, with 10 years suspended.

The state’s attorney said that the sentenced pleased him. “[The defendant’s] intentional and reckless actions in his attempt to kill one intended victim, almost killed another man, woman and child as they slept. His actions also put 23 of our first responders in harm’s way as they battled this blaze in the middle of the night.”

The couple who lived in the home with their daughter lost a cat and all of their belongings. Their son was the man the defendant’s girlfriend told him about.

When facing such serious charges as this man, it’s important to remember that a plea bargain may or may not be a good choice for you. Your attorney can provide more information on whether the prosecution’s offer is one you should consider.

Source: Capital Gazette, “Pasadena man sentenced to 55 years in prison in Glen Burnie ‘fire selfie’ case,” Lauren Loricchio, May 31, 2016