Marvin Leroy Smith-Capers, Arson, South Carolina 2018

Grimy Times Exclusive: Marvin Leroy Smith-Capers, 37, Pleads Guilty to Arson in South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina - Marvin Leroy Smith-Capers, 37, of Newark, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in federal court to arson, a felony charge that carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, on January 8, 2018, just after midnight, Smith-Capers set fire to Joy’s Touch of Class in downtown Holly Hill after spending much of the previous two hours stealing merchandise from the store.

The flames spread to two adjacent businesses, Goldstein’s and the Super 10, causing damage to all three in excess of $1 million.

Holly Hill police officers first noticed suspicious activity when the white GMC Yukon driven by Smith-Capers recklessly pulled into the road opposite their direction of travel. They followed the Yukon, which then accelerated down Railroad Street, ultimately losing control.

At the accident scene, officers discovered the overturned Yukon, an ejected and unresponsive Smith-Capers, and merchandise scattered about. This merchandise was traced back to Joy’s.

Smith-Capers was also linked to the scene of the fire through the ankle monitor he was wearing as part of a previous probationary sentence. GPS data tracked Smith-Capers as he moved back and forth between the store and his vehicle as he loaded the Yukon with stolen merchandise.

Smith-Capers faces a maximum $250,000 fine and will be responsible for restitution to the store owners.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as the Holly Hill Police and Fire Departments, the Orangeburg County Fire District, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Winston David Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.

Acting United States Attorney A. Lance Crick announced the guilty plea, stating that Smith-Capers will be sentenced at a later date by United States District Court Judge Mary Geiger Lewis.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/new-jersey-man-pleads-guilty-federal-court-holly-hill-arson