GREENBELT, Md. (AP) -- Five of the six suspects charged with arson for allegedly setting fires that caused $10 million in damage to an upscale suburban Washington housing development pleaded not guilty Wednesday in federal court.
Lawyers for Michael Everhart, Roy McCann, Jeremy Parady, Aaron Speed and Patrick Walsh entered pleas in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Day. Along with arson, the men are also charged with conspiracy and aiding and abetting for allegedly carrying out the fires. A sixth suspect, Michael Gilbert, was charged with arson but has not yet been indicted.
Prosecutors believe the men drove to the Hunters Brooke development early Dec. 6, poured chemicals in homes that were under construction and set them ablaze. Ten houses were destroyed and 16 others were damaged.
The men allegedly were all part of a group known as ``the family'' and had a mutual interest in street racing. Prosecutors claim the group, led by Walsh, plotted the fires as far back as August. Speed worked as a private security guard at Hunters Brooke.
No clear motive has emerged, but court filings suggest Walsh hoped to make a name for the group with the fires. Revenge is also a possible motive, since Speed was angry at his employer and Parady was rejected by the builder for a job, according to prosecutors.
Trial dates were set for the five who pleaded not guilty. Walsh will be tried May 31, Parady on June 14, Speed on July 12, McCann on Aug. 9 and Everhart on Aug. 23.
Three of the men were ordered released on home detention as they await trial. McCann was let go Wednesday morning, more than two weeks after Day originally ordered him released. He did not comment as he left the courthouse with his mother, Barbara Harrison, and two friends.
McCann was originally supposed to live at Harrison's house in Marbury, but her landlord would not allow him to stay there. Under an arrangement approved by Day on Wednesday, McCann will live at his girlfriend's house with Harrison.
Related:
- Five Suspects Indicted in Maryland Arson Spree
- Suspect In Maryland Arson Ordered Released On Home Detention
- Maryland Arson Probe Looks at Car Club
- Prosecutor: Maryland Arsons May Be Hate Crimes
- Affidavit: Suspect in Maryland Arson Case Says Gang Sought Higher Profile
- List of Suspects Charged in Maryland Housing Development Arson
- Officials Still Unclear on Maryland Arson Motive
- Maryland Investigators Expand Arson Probe as Two More Suspects Arrested
- On the Job: Largest Maryland Residential Arsons Challenge Firefighters
- Firefighter, Wide Ring Suspected in Maryland Arsons
- Firefighter Among Three More Arrested in Maryland Arsons
- Read the Court Affidavit Related to Charges Against Speed (washingtonpost.com)
- Security Guard Arrested in Connection with $10M Maryland Arsons
- Investigators: Maryland Development Torched by More Than One Arsonist
- No Motive Determined at Torched Maryland Development
- Maryland Commissioners Increase Fire Reward To $82,000
- 26 Homes Burned, 12 Total Loses, in Maryland Housing Development Fire
- Eco-Terrorism Suspected In Arson Fires at Maryland Housing Development
- Maryland Fire Guts 12 Expensive, Unoccupied Homes
- Fire Engulfs Maryland Homes in Development Criticized by Environmentalists
