Terrance Lee Hester Jr., Arson During Civil Disturbance, Florida 2020

A Tampa man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in setting fire to a Champs Sports store during a civil disturbance in 2020.

According to court documents, Terrance Lee Hester Jr., 21, of Tampa, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for damaging or destroying by fire a building used in interstate commerce. The court also ordered Hester to pay restitution and to serve three years of supervised release following completion of his prison sentence.

The events that led to Hester’s conviction occurred around midnight on May 31, 2020, in a shopping plaza located at 2301 East Fowler Avenue in Tampa. Simultaneously with a peaceful protest going on in the area, certain individuals began to loot and destroy property, including setting fire to the Champs Sports store located in the plaza.

Video footage obtained by investigators revealed that Hester tossed a flaming piece of cloth into the Champs Sports store through a broken window. Fire investigators determined that the fire originated inside the Champs Sports store, and Hester’s act caused or contributed to the cause of the fire.

The loss to the building, the Champs Sports store, and the other businesses is estimated at $1.25 million. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, and Tampa Fire Rescue. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.

Hester was charged with damaging or destroying by fire a building used in interstate commerce, a federal offense. The case highlights the dangers of civil disturbances and the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions.

In addition to his prison sentence, Hester was ordered to pay restitution and to serve three years of supervised release following completion of his prison sentence. The exact amount of restitution is not specified in the court documents.

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