By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — Robert Patrick III, 49, of Redford Township could serve between four-and-a-half years to 30 years in prison for his role in a Dearborn Heights arson.
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge James Chylinski sentenced Patrick to prison Jan. 17 for the second degree arson, second degree home invasion and receiving and concealing stolen property with a value of over $1,000 charges he faced since November.
Patrick was arraigned on the charges on Nov. 2 in 20th District Court in connection to the fire he allegedly started at a house in the 6900 block of Mayburn. He was jailed on $100,000 cash bond.
The case was bound over to circuit court on Nov. 28 and on Dec. 5 a plea of not guilty was entered by the court after Patrick stood mute during an arraignment on information. Also on Dec. 5, a disposition conference took place and as a result the court accepted a guilty plea from Patrick, according to court records.
On Oct. 29, Firefighters responded to the call of a garage on fire at 8:15 p.m., but when they arrived on the scene, the second story of the house was engulfed in flames.
Fire Chief David Brogan said firefighters arrived at the house within five minutes and saw smoke emanating from the second story windows.
“Firefighters entered through the front door, but the stairs were already burned down so they placed ladders on both sides of the house to go inside,” Brogan said. “The first floor was clear and there was nobody home so no one was injured.”
Brogan also said the cause of the fire may have been from clothing being spread around the house and set on fire along with clothing placed on the stove top which was turned on.
Some of the clothing was spread on the stairs causing the staircase to burn down quicker than normal, Brogan said.
Inspectors responded to the house and surveyed the damage which was limited to the second story, stair case and kitchen floor.
That same night, police were dispatched to Dearborn Heights Liquor and Wine Shoppe, 25322 W. Warren Ave., after a man made threats against owners who refused to sell him alcohol.
Upon arrival at the store, officers noticed Patrick had burn marks on his clothing and items stolen from the house in his possession. He was arrested at the store by police.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)