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.
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