Five Suspects Indicted in Maryland Arson Spree

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) -- Less than a month after a $10 million fire-setting spree that was described as the state's largest-ever residential arson, prosecutors announced Monday that five young men have been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Interim U.S. Attorney Allen Loucks _ hours after being sworn in _ made the announcement with top officials of five law enforcement agencies at his side. But his declaration included no information about the possible motives, including whether the fires were hate crimes.

The suspects were indicted on identical charges of arson, conspiracy to commit arson, and aiding and abetting.

Loucks didn't rule out the possibility that other arrests could be made. The indictment alleges that the five suspects conspired with each other ``and with other persons known and unknown to the grand jury.'' Loucks also wouldn't comment on why a sixth defendant, Michael Gilbert, 21, was charged but not indicted and whether he is cooperating with investigators.

Prosecutors have said they were looking into whether race was a factor; many of the homeowners moving into the development were black while those arrested were white men in their early 20s.

Investigators believe they've answered the questions of ``who, what, when and how,'' said Kevin Perkins, the FBI's special agent in charge of Baltimore's field office. But, he added, ``still unknown is 'why'.''

Those indicted are: Patrick Steven Walsh, 20, of Fort Washington; Aaron Lee Speed, 21, of Waldorf; Michael McIntosh Everhart, 20, of Waldorf; Jeremy Daniel Parady, 20, of Accokeek; and Roy T. McCann, 22, of Marbury.

The indictment alleges that from about Aug. 1 to Dec. 6, when the fires were set, the men conspired ``to maliciously damage and attempt to damage'' the Hunters Brooke development under construction near Indian Head in Charles County.

Speed was a security guard at the development and Parady served as a volunteer firefighter. Walsh has been described as the leader of the group, members of a street racing club known as The Family and the Unseen Cavaliers. Investigators have said they believe the fires were set primarily to gain notoriety for the group.

The penalty for arson and for conspiracy to commit arson ranges from a mandatory minimum sentence of five years to a maximum of 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

Loucks congratulated the multi-agency task force that tackled the arsons, pointing out that ``speedy arrests'' were made within 10 to 14 days of the fires.

``The events of this case have really shocked us all,'' said Loucks, an assistant U.S. attorney since 1994 who on Monday assumed the duties of chief prosecutor for 120 days or until a replacement is named.

David McCain, assistant special agent in charge for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, credited a ``strong partnership, a common goal and good, old-fashioned police work''.

Officials at his side said they hope the indictments will bring a sense of relief to the community surrounding the burned-out housing development.

``I personally feel comfortable they are safe,'' said Charles County Sheriff Frederick Davis. ``Is there a small chance something could happen? Yes.''

Several Charles County sheriff's deputies have been hired part-time by the builder to patrol the development.

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