Dalyn Ray Lane Johnson, Arson, Oklahoma 2021

MUSKOGEE, OK – Dalyn Ray Lane Johnson, 24, of McAlester, Oklahoma, is headed to federal prison for nearly three and a half years after torching an unoccupied residence in Hartshorne. Johnson was sentenced on May 4, 2023, to 39 months incarceration for the charge of Arson in Indian Country, a serious offense that brought together multiple law enforcement agencies.

The fire, which required the Hartshorne Fire Department to respond in the early morning hours of May 1st, 2021, wasn’t random. Investigators say Johnson ignited the blaze after a heated argument with a Hartshorne resident, explicitly threatening to burn down the house. Evidence quickly pointed to Johnson: video surveillance from a Casey’s gas station captured him filling a fuel canister with gasoline just hours before the fire erupted.

But Johnson didn’t stick around to face the music. He fled, attempting to evade both state and federal authorities. A federal warrant was issued, and the ATF, working alongside the Hartshorne Police Department and the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal, tracked him down in Michigan on October 21st. The multi-state manhunt underscores the commitment to bringing violent offenders to justice, regardless of location.

“Johnson’s arrest and conviction for arson was a team effort that resulted in a serious violent crime being solved and the perpetrator held accountable,” stated SSA Ashley Stephens, Resident Agent in Charge, ATF Tulsa Field Office. “ATF is committed to working with our state, local and tribal partners to tirelessly combat violent crime in Eastern Oklahoma.” The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma due to Johnson’s tribal affiliation and the fact the crime occurred within the Choctaw Nation reservation in Pittsburg County.

United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson highlighted the challenges of arson cases, stating, “Arson can sometimes be a difficult crime to prosecute. Our law enforcement partners did an excellent job of gathering evidence and tracking down the defendant hundreds of miles from the crime scene.” Johnson pleaded guilty on March 9, 2022, acknowledging his responsibility for the fire.

U.S. District Judge Ronald A. White handed down the sentence in Muskogee. Johnson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal and will be transferred to a Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his non-parolable sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony C. Marek handled the prosecution, securing a conviction that sends a clear message: arson, especially in vulnerable communities, will not be tolerated.

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