Suspect In Maryland Arson Ordered Released On Home Detention

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) -- A federal judge on Monday released a Waldorf man, accused of helping set fire to an upscale Charles County housing development, into the custody of his parents.

Michael Everhart,20, is the second suspect placed on home detention as investigators probe what has been described as the largest residential arson in state history.

Everhart walked out of U.S. District Court with family members after Magistrate Judge Jillyn Schulze released him until his trial. He did not comment as he left the building.

Six men are charged with arsons that caused $10 million in damage at the Hunters Brooke development in Indian Head. Four have either been ordered held without bail or did not challenge their detentions. A judge ordered a fifth suspect, Roy McCann, released on home detention last week.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Sanger did not oppose Everhart's release during a short hearing, telling Schulze ``further information'' on his role in the fires prompted prosecutors to determine that he could be released. Sanger did not say what that information was.

Everhart's attorney, William Brennan, said a defense investigation yielded ``material'' that persuaded prosecutors to agree to Everhart's release. He would not comment after the hearing.

According to court records filed in his own case and those of other suspects, Everhart told investigators he knew of plans to set fire to Hunters Brooke and was there when the development was torched early Dec. 6.

He allegedly identified Patrick Walsh as the ringleader, a man prosecutors have said had a ``fascination with fire'' and planned the blazes to gain notoriety for a street racing club the men belonged to called ``The UnSeen Cavaliers.''

Everhart said all five other men were at the fire, according to the court records. But even though he went to the development, Everhart told investigators he didn't know what was going to happen and left before any of the homes were set ablaze.

Also facing charges in the crime are Aaron Speed, Michael Gilbert, and Jeremy Parady. Speed was a security guard at the development and Parady served as a volunteer firefighter.

Federal prosecutors have said there could be other arrests in the case but that investigators believe they have the core group responsible for the arsons in custody.

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