Why is arson a federal crime

A conviction can result in a jail sentence. Arson in the Third Degree Class C felony : Occurs when someone willfully uses fire or explosives to damage a car or building. The law requires a mandatory jail sentence if convicted of this offense. Arson in the Second Degree Class B violent felony : Applies when someone intentionally sets a fire in a car or building while another person is inside, and they knew there was a possibility that this person or people were present.

Arson in the First Degree Class A-I felony : The most severe arson charge, it applies if someone intentionally sets off a fire or explosion in a building or car and the fire causes serious physical injury to an individual, that injures another person while knowing that someone could be on the scene.

Another effective defense is that you are intoxicated at the time of the burning and the act was performed without any intentions of federal arson, but rather because you have no control of your thoughts. Insanity is also one defense to consider. If these defenses does not fit you in any way, you could just ague that you were unaware that there are people inside the establishment.

This could help lessen your charges. You cannot pre-measure the damage of a fire. Since Nevada is arguably a land owned by the federal government, you will more or less be violating federal arson laws if you start one. It is bad enough that you destroy a particular property through flames, do not make it worse by aggravating the federal government.

If you did not intend to start a fire, especially on a federal property or you are not the suspect at all, the best thing to do is to procure the help of a Las Vegas criminal defense attorney to help with your charges. US Federal Arson Laws Setting a property on fire with the deliberate and malicious intent to harm or destroy is called arson.

And this could escalate to federal arson when it involves federal property. What is arson? Is arson a federal crime? There are varying degrees of arson as seen in NRS Nevada Revised Statutes : First Degree An act becomes a first degree arson when a person burns, aids or counsels others to burn a dwelling house, a mobile home, whether vacant or occupied as well as private properties which are inhabited by two or more individuals.

There is no statute of limitations for prosecution of arson. After a fire or explosion, the responding fire department will try to determine its cause and origin. If the fire resulted in a death or serious injury, large dollar loss, or involved state, federal or school property, the state fire marshal may be called in to investigate. Cause and origin experts will try to determine the reason for the fire. Expert examination can include electric and gas appliances, electric blankets, hair dryers, electrical wiring and automotive components.

If accelerant is suspected as the cause of the fire, samples will be collected and sent to the Mississippi Crime Lab in Jackson for forensic chemical analysis. Fire expert cause and origin opinion should be in accordance with NFPA Gulfport defense lawyer Rufus Alldredge has prosecuted felony arson cases in the past.

Alldredge now defends arson charges. Sometimes it is necessary to retain a cause and origin expert to help explain how and why the fire started. The best criminal defense lawyers will know how to rebut the county or state fire marshal. You do not necessarily have to follow through with the act of actually burning down or exploding a commercial structure used in interstate commerce in order to be charged with an arson crime.

According to 18 U. In addition, conspiracy to commit arson or to engage in the interstate transport of explosive materials with a reasonable expectation that they will be used to commit arson is a federal offense. Due to such severe criminal penalties, and the expansive definition of, it is important to hire an arson defense lawyer as soon as you become aware of a federal investigation or indictment. Do not wait. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Brandon Sample have considerable experience defending against such federal criminal charges.

By retaining counsel early, every possible defense can be raised and criminal liabilities can be mitigated. The potential penalties for a federal defendant convicted of arson are severe enough that it is crucial to mount the best possible defense to the charge.

Just as important is mounting a defense as early as possible, ideally during the investigatory phase of the criminal process. According to federal statute 18 U.