Share
The Virginia Tech student connected with the three fires started in Terrace View apartments between July and Sept. 2007 has been formally indicted by a federal grand jury.
On Oct. 17, Robert Lawson, 23, a resident of 5500 Terrace View, was arrested and officially charged in a three-count indictment with "maliciously damaging by means of fire a building or other real property used in interstate or foreign commerce or in any activity affecting interstate or foreign commerce," said a press release from the office of John Brownlee, US attorney for the Western District of Virginia.
Because of that specific charge, Lawson will be prosecuted at a federal level. If convicted, he could face a maximum of 20 years in prison, and/or a fine of $250,000 for each count.
According to the federal indictment, the first fire occurred in the late evening of July 19. The Blacksburg Fire Department responded to a call placed by Lawson at 9:55 p.m., saying that there was a fire in the basement common area used by tenants for storage and laundry in building 5500 of Terrace View.
After the fire was extinguished, a Fire Code Official conducted a cause and origin investigation of the fire, and was able to rule out all natural and accidental causes. The official concluded that the fire originated in a storage unit in the laundry room of the 5500 complex, and labeled the fire as "suspicious."
On July 31, the Blacksburg Fire Department again responded to a call, this one not placed by Lawson, of a fire in building 5500 of Terrace View. This second fire originated in the water heater room of the complex, and there was another investigation conducted once the fire was extinguished.
The official cause of the fire was labeled as arson, and the storage-laundry area of complex 5500 was secured. While attempting to suppress the fire, police and firefighters observed Lawson in the vicinity of the fire, holding a portable police scanner.
At 4:23 a.m. on Sept. 20, members of the Blacksburg Fire Department responded to a third call of a fire in Terrace View, this one in apartment complex 5100, located across a small parking lot from 5500. After extinguishing the fire, an investigation concluded that the cause of the fire was arson.
Lawson was observed at the scene of the arson, being one of the first four persons to arrive on scene. With the use of a hydrocarbon gas detector, a device that can detect trace amounts of accelerants after a fire, officials detected the presence of hydrocarbon gas on Lawson.
In each of the three instances, the fire significantly damaged, burned, and charred the structure of the Terrace View properties.
"Mr. Lawson's attempts to burn these apartment buildings posed a real threat to many Virginia Tech students and other tenants," said US attorney Brownlee in a statement. "Working with our state partners, we will do our best to make certain that Mr. Lawson is brought to justice."
The initial investigation of the case was conducted by the Virginia State Police, Blacksburg Police Department, Virginia Tech Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case has since been handed over to the U.S. Attorney's office for federal prosecution, according to Jo Brooks, spokesperson for the US Attorney's office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald R. Wolthuis will prosecute the case for the government. There is no more information about Lawson's trial available at this time.
Related:
Leave a comment 10 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
Perhaps all of the appropriate information pertaining to the laws should be investigated before reporting on such an incident. It seems that all of the necessary information to make an assumption about prosecution is missing. I would encourage more vigilant research to promote accurate reporting as opposed to sensational journalism.
Reply to this Top
Lauren, this is a newspaper, not Law and Order. I'm sure many of the details of the case are sealed and kept from public view to avoid tainting potential jurors, so the reporters just have no access to further information. I thought the article explained the background of the situation perfectly fine and professionally. The only question I'm left with is: On what grounds did they make a federal case out of it?
Reply to this Top
Andrew, the charges specify the fire involved "real property used in interstate or foreign commerce or in any activity affecting interstate or foreign commerce". This refers to the apartments, as they are considered property used in interstate commerce (I'm not sure why). Pretty much anything involving interstate commerce must be prosecuted federally. It helps avoid dismissal over improper jurisdictions if the charges were brought at the state level.
Reply to this Top
The second fire occured on August 31st, not July 31st.
Reply to this Top
Isnt this automatically federal because of the commonwealth? I dont know, just curious. Interesting though.
Reply to this Top
It could pertain to out-of-state residency of the student.
Reply to this Top
The federal charges have nothing to do with Virginia being a commonwealth or the student's possible out-of-state residency (called diversity jurisdiction). If Virginia's status as a "commonwealth" made a difference, that suggests all crimes in VA would be prosecuted federally. Also, criminal charges are filed in the state in which they are committed, so residency doesn't affect this case. Civil cases can be litigated on either the federal or state level, but there are alot of rules governing that type of jurisdiction. Lawson was charged federally because he violated a federal statute. The apartments are apparently owned by a company based out of Georgia, so their business in Terrace View would constitute interstate commerce.
Reply to this Top
P.S. -- Federal prosecution usually won't move the trial out of the jurisdictional territory of Virginia. Without appeal, his trial is delegated to the Western District of Virginia. It is a federal court conducted under federal rules, but is located in Virginia. Of course, Lawson's lawyer might request that the trial be moved if there is reasonable belief that the jury pool could be tainted. He'd probably lose that motion because the jury is taken from a wide pool within the district and so it shouldn't be too hard to find unbiased jurors.
Reply to this Top
Well he's messed up his life now, idiot
Reply to this Top
It is a federal case because the apartment was on federal property. I went to school him.
Reply to this Top