VANCOUVER, WA – A decades-old case finally cracked as 60-year-old Mark Duane Fuston, known on the streets as “Mau Mau,” admitted to his role in a devastating 2003 arson that gutted a nearly completed commercial building in Vancouver. Fuston pleaded guilty October 2, 2013, to conspiracy to commit arson, bringing a measure of closure to a fire that caused an estimated $850,000 in damage.
The target: ‘Desire Video,’ a store under construction on NE 94th Avenue. According to court documents, Fuston wasn’t acting on impulse. He was hired to burn the place down. Working alongside a now-deceased accomplice, Fuston meticulously planned the attack, rerouting a propane line into the building and planting a remote-controlled incendiary device. But things didn’t go as planned. The device malfunctioned, forcing Fuston to improvise – and escalate the danger.
On the night of March 27, 2003, Fuston returned to the scene, laying a trail of flammable liquids. He then manually ignited it. This, combined with the already-present propane, resulted in a violent explosion and a rapidly spreading fire that completely destroyed the structure. The scene was chaos, and the investigation went cold for years, until a fresh look at the evidence brought Fuston back into the spotlight.
Fuston was formally indicted on March 27, 2013, reigniting the investigation. U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced the guilty plea, a testament to the persistent work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Vancouver Police Department, and the Vancouver Fire Department. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory A. Gruber spearheaded the prosecution.
While Fuston could face the maximum five-year sentence for arson conspiracy, prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of no more than 37 months. However, U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle isn’t bound by the recommendation and retains the authority to impose any sentence up to the legal maximum. Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, 2013, leaving Fuston to await his fate.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. This fire wasn’t a random act of vandalism; it was a calculated crime driven by profit, and Fuston is finally being held accountable. The question remains: who hired him, and will they also face justice?
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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