Landlord’s Arson Conviction Overturned
The conviction of a landlord who was charged with arson after a fatal fire at his rental property has been thrown out.
The 72-year-old man has served sixteen years in prison for the crime, according to a news report.
He was charged after three of his tenants — a mother and two children — perished in an early morning fire. Investigators determined that the blaze was intentionally set using a chemical accelerant. They alleged the same accelerant was found on the landlord’s shoes. An eviction case was pending at the time of the fire, according to the report.
However, the investigators’ findings came under criticism when it was discovered that the chemical they had identified was common in many household products.
After reversing the conviction, the appeals judge ordered that the case be retried in light of the new evidence, or that the landlord be released from prison.
With AAOA, landlords have resources at their fingertips. Check out our new Landlord Forms Page.
American Apartment Owners Association offers discounts on products and services for landlords related to your rental housing investment, including rental forms, tenant debt collection, tenant background checks, insurance and financing. Find out more at www.joinaaoa.org.
Accessibility