A federal jury on Thursday found Kenneth Southwell guilty of arson for the Sept. 1 blaze that destroyed the Heart Seed warehouse, at a loss of $2.7 million. Southwell was a volunteer firefighter for Fire District 2 in the town 20 miles south of Spokane and acted as the incident commander of the fire.
Eight days after the fire, Southwell told federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents that he started that blaze and five others in the area using flares and other supplies he took from the fire district.
The ATF alleged that Southwell went to Heart Seed at 4:30 a.m. on Sept. 1, broke a window, poured lighter fluid inside and used a cigarette lighter to start the fire.
Southwell's attorney said her client suffered from a severe sleep disorder and a mental illness that gave him multiple personalities.
Southwell faced a federal charge because 90 percent of the 2 million pounds of grass seed at the facility came from Idaho farmers.
A federal judge will sentence Southwell within 90 days. He faces up to 20 years in prison and will remain in custody until his sentencing.
Southwell was indicted by a federal grand jury last Sept. 20 on a charge of malicious use of fire to damage property involved in interstate commerce.
