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Arsonist Pleads Guilty in Muskogee Court
A Broken Arrow man has admitted to committing a devastating arson attack on a Tahlequah paint store in 2017, leaving investigators to piece together the evidence and bring him to justice.
MATTHEW EVAN SMITH, 37, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has pleaded guilty to Arson, a federal crime punishable by not less than 5 years or more than 20 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00 or both, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The indictment alleged that on or about April 26, 2017, Smith maliciously damaged, and attempted to damage and destroy, by means of fire, the Sherwin-Williams Paint Store located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which was used in an activity affecting interstate commerce.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who worked tirelessly to gather evidence and build a case against Smith.
Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States in the case, bringing the evidence to the court to secure Smith’s guilty plea.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report, bringing Smith one step closer to facing justice for his crime.
Smith’s guilty plea comes as a relief to the community, who can now begin to heal and rebuild from the devastating effects of the arson attack.
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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