PHOENIX, Ariz. – LAWFUEL – Law News Network – A federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a two count indictment against Samuel John Dieteman and Dale S. Hausner for Maliciously Destroying a Building Used in Interstate Commerce in connection with two fires that occurred at Glendale Wal-Marts on June 8, 2006. The two defendants also face murder and assault charges in Maricopa County where they are currently held.
The indictment is the result of an independent investigation carried out by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Glendale Fire Department into two fires on June 8 at the 95th Avenue and West Northern Avenue Wal-Mart stores in Glendale. U.S. Attorney Paul K. Charlton said, “We are cooperating closely with federal and state law enforcement authorities who have investigated these criminal acts. We are deferring our own case until the State has completed its prosecution of the two defendants for the very serious crimes they are accused of. The federal government will continue to cooperate fully and at the appropriate time to ensure we are all operating with a complete set of tools with which to seek justice for these crimes.”
A conviction for Maliciously Destroying a Building Used in Interstate Commerce carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a mandatory 5 years imprisonment for each count. In determining an actual sentence, District Judge James A. Teilborg will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.
An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Glendale Fire Department. The prosecution is being handled by Roger Dokken, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-06-0809-PHX-JAT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2006-167(Dieteman & Hausner)
