James Ralph Brady, Arson, North Carolina 2021

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Arsonist Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – In a shocking turn of events, James Ralph Brady, 55, of Cherokee, N.C. was sentenced to four years in prison today followed by five years of supervised release for the arson of a home that caused approximately $10,000 in damage.

According to court documents, on July 25, 2021, a residential structural fire was reported at 37 Bob Owle Road in Cherokee. The residence is a single-wide trailer and the fire was set to an exterior wall with damage done throughout the residence.

Chief Carla Neadeau of the Cherokee Indian Police Department joins U.S. Attorney Dena J. King in making today’s announcement. ‘We are pleased that justice has been served in this case,’ said Chief Neadeau.

Court records reveal that Brady was on house arrest on Tribal charges at the time and his ankle monitoring device pinged at the residence near the time the fire was discovered. When questioned by Tribal police, Brady admitted throwing an incendiary device commonly called a ‘Molotov cocktail’ near the residence before it caught fire.

Law enforcement records show that Brady thought his intended target lived at the residence but was mistaken and that he had no dispute with the actual victim. The victim was able to put the fire out but not before substantial damage was done to the home.

Brady is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the Cherokee Indian Police Department for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case. ‘We take these types of crimes very seriously and will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice,’ said U.S. Attorney King.