A fire that destroyed sections of a multi-million dollar building on March 12th may have been started by a homeless man attempting to frighten an ex-girlfriend. According to the Indianapolis Star Brandon Burns told several people that he started the fire in the Cosmopolitan of the Canal. Burns has been charged with arson and intimidation.
Police are still investigating the case as there are several questions left unanswered. Prosecutor Carl Brizzi states he wants to “dig deeper” to ensure all of the information is known. He claims the whole story seems a little “neat and tidy”.
The building is a $37 million dollar project that contains apartments and retail areas. According to the president of construction, many areas survived the fire and the remaining damaged sites will be rebuilt. The building was scheduled to begin moving in tenants in May.
Arson is the most serious property damage crime. Being accused of damaging property is a serious matter and one that can have a grim outlook.
Less serious but far more common than an arson charge are criminal mischief charges. These arise when you knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly cause damage to someone else’s property. The charge and subsequent sentence faced are dependent on the value of the property in question.
Charges like this can end in jail sentences and hefty fines. An experienced criminal defense attorney is crucial when facing these cases. Call today if you are facing charges of arson, criminal mischief, or any other criminal charges in the state of Indiana.