Detroit Man Guilty In Jefferson Ave. Arson
DETROIT (WWJ) - A federal jury has found a Detroit man guilty for helping start a Jefferson Avenue fire that injured seven Detroit firefighters almost one year ago. Federal prosecutors said 41-year old Calvin Jones plotted with another man to set fire to a commercial building that housed a Metro PCS store.
The second floor wall fell in on the firefighters. One of them was left paralyzed from the waist down.
"Mr. Jones' conduct significantly altered the lives of these firefighters, and destroyed local small businesses. While this conviction will not heal the firefighters' serious and permanent injuries, we hope that it will deter others from committing arson in the future," said U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade in a statement.
A jury heard two weeks of testimony and deliberated less than 30 minutes before returning the guilty verdict on Monday.
An investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms National Response Team showed the fire was set with gasoline that had been poured into the building through a hole in a brick wall that had been created the day before the fire.
In May, Jones' co-defendant Samson Wright pleaded guilty to malicious use of fire.
Jones faces between 7 and 40 years in prison when he's sentenced October 11th.
