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Judge: Man guilty of arson
Originally published 10:45 p.m., November 16, 2009
Updated 11:23 p.m., November 16, 2009
Aaron James Brennan
A Portsmouth man faces up to 125 years in prison after being convicted of 10 felonies in Suffolk Circuit Court Monday.
Aaron James Brennan, 22, was convicted of attempted arson, arson, destruction of property, statutory burglary, grand larceny, larceny with the intent to sell and four counts of conspiracy in a bench trial before Judge Rodham T. Delk. His sentencing is scheduled for March 4.
The evidence against Brennan showed that he, along with Clinton Matthew Ivey, Ashby Brill and a juvenile went to a vacant house at 1724 Hosier Road on Feb. 20 with the intention of stealing items and burning the home to destroy the evidence.
The four broke into the back door and removed a refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, chandelier and two ceiling fans. They also punched holes in walls, destroyed cabinets and broke mirrors and toilet fixtures. The foursome then put pages from a telephone book into the holes they had punched in the walls and lit the paper in an attempt to burn the house down, according to prosecutor Bob Sandwich.
After failing to set the house on fire, the thieves broke into a garage on the property and stole tires and rims, two lawnmowers and beer. The garage was set on fire and eventually burned to the ground, destroying siding on the house.
Arson investigators determined the cause of the fire was arson. On March 7, Brennan was arrested in a County Street apartment in Portsmouth and questioned by Suffolk police. He admitted to planning the break-in to steal items, as well as planning to burn the home. He also admitted they had sold one of the stolen lawnmowers.
The rest of the items were found in Brennan’s apartment. Total damages to the property exceeded $28,000.
All three co-defendants already have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Ivey and Brennan also are accused in a March 4 home invasion on Freeman Mill Road, where the two, along with a juvenile, allegedly beat and bound a 65-year-old woman before ransacking her home and stealing money, jewelry, credit cards and her car.
Brennan’s trial on those charges is set for March 18. Ivey pleaded guilty to charges related to that incident.
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Comments
Posted by OD (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 5:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Another group of punks going to were they belong. Hold on to your pillows "boys"
Posted by iboykins (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
its mighty sad when you work for something and you have these people who dont want to do nothing come and try to rob you blind. i hope that get what they deserve in jail for beating up that old lady she was someone grandma, mother, sister, niece, friend, child of god.
Posted by KNRMCO (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A CONVICTION WITH SOME BITE!
Posted by bena (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nothing does my heart more good than hearing that old time favorite being sung from Cell Block D. Rock-a-bye, Rock-a-bye We won't let one minute slip by. Hug the rack, not on your back Brings a tear to my eye How about you OD
Posted by OD (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bet someone boxes those ears,,,
Posted by bena (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OD: you know those are handles Must I tell you everything
Posted by FreedomofOpinion (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, the conviction is nice. Let's see what sentence he gets!
Posted by OD (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Handles? for what? NEVERMIND. my visual just caused me to spit Dr. Pepper on my screen.And he's not that pretty either.
Posted by bena (anonymous) on November 19, 2009 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry OD I did not mean to cause you to spit. He really looks like he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer however when he goes to PrisonLaShay his looks will not matter. It will be love at first sight. I must go now. I need to get the tires on my bike pumped up and give the downtown police officers a run for their money. I have arranged a race with about 13 Senior Citizens in Hoovarounds and the winner buys lunch at Fire Mountain. I may have to send out an SOS for your credit card number to help me pay. You know these Hoovarounds can pop a wheelie in a second.
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