BALTIMORE (AP) -- The ringleader behind a massive fire at a southern Maryland housing development hatched the arson plan to spread fear of his gang, The Family, prosecutors said Wednesday at his trial.
Patrick Walsh, 21, recruited members for the group that set fire to dozens of homes at the Hunters Brooke subdivision early on Dec. 6, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Sanger.
''He wanted to be the leader of a gang that ran things in Charles County,'' Sanger said in opening statements. ''He wanted The Family to be people you didn't mess with, people you feared.''
Walsh faces conspiracy charges and multiple counts of arson for allegedly setting the fires along with four others. Each count carries a possible prison term of up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine.
The blazes destroyed 10 homes and damaged 16 at the development in Indian Head that was still largely under construction. No one was injured, but a family living in the one occupied house was forced to flee the fire, which caused $10 million in damage.
Walsh's case is the first trial of five men accused of setting the fires. Two of the others have pleaded guilty and may testify against Walsh.
Walsh's attorney said in his opening statements that the government's case is short on forensic evidence and rests with testimony from men who are liars.
William Purpura said Walsh was at home in nearby Fort Washington working on his computer at the time of the fires, and that evidence from cell phone calls would prove he was not at Hunters Brooke.
''Patrick Walsh is not guilty of this horrific crime,'' he said.
Terri Rookard, who was asleep with her young children in the occupied house when the fires began, described seeing houses around her burn fiercely.
''There was fire everywhere'' as she and her family drove away, she said. ''We didn't know if we would make it out.''
Copyright 2005 Associated Press
