Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Arson in Last Year's Riots
BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ) -- A 23-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday to the arson of a Baltimore food market amid the riots and unrest that broke out following the death of Freddie Gray last year, authorities said.
As part of a plea deal, Trevon Green acknowledged instigating the arson of the market located on North Monroe Street, ransacking a liquor store on West North Avenue and then assaulting the store's owner, according to a news release from the United States Attorney's Office.
If a judge approves that agreement at his sentencing hearing on Aug. 22, Green will spend 70 months in prison. He will also be ordered to pay back nearly $335,000 in damages.
"Trevon Green was not a protester, he was a criminal who enjoyed committing gratuitous violence," said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein in a statement. "He looted a liquor store and kicked the defenseless store owner in the head, then he set fire to a food market."
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In video recorded on April 27, 2015, Green could be seen leaving a store in the 2200 block of West North Avenue with a box of merchandise in hand, prosecutors said. After pausing to speak with someone, he turned around and kicked the store owner, who was taking cover near his car, in the face and injured him.
About 8:25 p.m., Green was captured on cell phone video with two other men near the front of the food market, located in the 1500 block of North Monroe Street. He can be heard telling the other men to set the store on fire. One of them can then be seen starting a fire in a trash can and then tossing it through a broken window. In the recording, Green said they're starting the fire "for Freddie Gray."
RELATED: Man Admits To Setting Liquor Store On Fire During Baltimore Riots
There is an ongoing investigation into the arsons that took place that day. Anyone with information is asked to call the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tip line at 1-888-ATF-FIRE. There is a reward of up to $10,000 for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for these incidents.
