PHOENIX (LAWFUEL) – Stuart W. Eschief, 35, of Scottsdale, Ariz. and a member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Tribe, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee. Eschief was convicted of arson by a federal jury on September 5, 2008.
On March 24, 2007, Eschief intentionally set fire to and burned his residence located on Glenrosa Drive in Scottsdale on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation. Eschief had resided at that location with his wife and their two children, however, no one was inside the residence at the time of the fire. Eschief admitted to a responding firefighter that he had started the fire as retaliation due to domestic issues.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Salt River Police and Fire Departments. The prosecution was handled by Thomas C. Simon, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-08-0103-PHX-SMM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-001(Eschief)
