PORTER, OKLAHOMA – Daniel Lewis Moon, 25, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, is facing years in federal prison after a jury convicted him of intentionally setting fire to the Dollar General store in Porter, Oklahoma, on March 28, 2020. The blaze caused extensive damage, and investigators quickly zeroed in on Moon, a former employee with a clear motive.
The week-long trial, which concluded Wednesday, revealed a disgruntled Moon deliberately ignited the fire inside the store. Prosecutors presented damning surveillance footage, showing Moon was the sole individual present in the area where the fire originated. This evidence directly contradicted Moon’s statements to investigators, who claimed to be elsewhere in the store at the time of the arson.
The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office, alongside the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), spearheaded the investigation. Detectives pieced together the evidence, building a solid case against Moon, proving beyond a reasonable doubt his malicious intent.
Federal prosecutors explained the case fell under their jurisdiction because the Dollar General store was engaged in interstate commerce, and the crime occurred within the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Flanigan and Kristiana Dietzel successfully argued the case before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Goodwin, who will now oversee sentencing after a presentence report is completed.
The fire wasn’t just a case of property damage; it represented a deliberate act of destruction. While the extent of the financial loss hasn’t been publicly disclosed, the impact on the small town of Porter and its residents was significant. The store’s closure disrupted local access to essential goods and services.
Moon now awaits sentencing, the length of which will depend on the presentence report and federal guidelines. He was found guilty of Arson, a serious federal offense that carries a substantial prison term. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing when it is scheduled.
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