Hunters Brooke arson

The Hunters Brooke arson was a series of fires that destroyed over two dozen houses in the under-construction Hunters Brooke Development on Maryland Route 225, southeast of Indian Head, Maryland, in the United States, on December 6, 2004. It is considered to be the worst arson event in Maryland state history.

Hunters Brooke Arson
LocationCharles County, Maryland, U.S.
DateDecember 6, 2004
TargetHunters Brooke development
Attack type
Arson
PerpetratorsJeremy Parady, Aaron Speed, Patrick Walsh

Initially suspicion fell on environmental extremists, since the development was being constructed in an unusual and sensitive wetland area, Magnolia Bog.[1]

However, it was ultimately determined that Patrick Walsh and Aaron Speed, a security guard for the Hunters Brooke Development, recruited three others to set fire to the homes as a hate crime. Three of the arsonists said they were motivated by the fact that the majority of the purchasers were African-Americans.[2][3]

Convicted and sentenced were:

  • Patrick Walsh, age 21, of Fort Washington, Maryland, was sentenced to 235 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release in connection with his conviction by a federal jury on September 2, 2005, of conspiracy to commit arson and 35 counts of arson.
  • Aaron Speed, age 22, of Waldorf, Maryland, was sentenced to 100 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release in connection with his guilty plea on June 23, 2005, to conspiracy to commit arson.
  • Jeremy Parady, age 21, of Accokeek, Maryland, was sentenced to 87 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release in connection with his guilty plea on April 28, 2005, to conspiracy to commit arson.
  • Roy McCann, age 23, of Marbury, Maryland, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release in connection with his guilty plea on January 8, 2007, of conspiracy to commit arson and 35 counts of arson.
  • Michael Everhart, 21, of Waldorf, Maryland, was sentenced to 44 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release in connection with his guilty plea on January 8, 2007, of conspiracy to commit arson and 35 counts of arson.

The trial judge also ordered that each defendant pay restitution of $3,274,538.42.[4][5]

References
  1. Barringer, Felicity; Dao, James; Olson, Elizabeth (8 December 2004). "100 Investigators Gather at Subdivision, Seeking Clues to Vast Arson". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  2. Gately, Gary (29 April 2005). "Man Pleads Guilty to Arson Spree in Maryland". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  3. Gately, Gary (6 October 2005). "Pall of Racism Remains Over Neighborhood Repaired After Arson". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  4. "Three Charles County Subdivision Arson Defendants Sentenced" (Press release). United States Department of Justice. 5 December 2005.
  5. "Jury convicts mastermind of $10M Maryland arson". USA Today. Associated Press. 2 September 2005.
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