Lambertville teen found guilty in arson of 2 unfinished homes

Saturday, July 12, 2008 Toledo Blade

MONROE- A Lambertville teenager who torched two unfinished
homes and took an ax to a utility pole to make a statement
against urban sprawl was convicted yesterday in Monroe
County Circuit Court of arson and malicious destruction of
property.

Michael W. Sykes, 17, pleaded no contest to two counts of arson of
real property for deliberately setting fires two days apart in March
that destroyed homes under construction in Bedford Township.

The former Bedford High School student also entered no-contest pleas
to one count of malicious destruction of property for trying to chop
down a Consumers Powers pole along Sterns Road and malicious
destruction of police property for damaging his cell in the Monroe
County jail in May.

Judge Joseph Costello, Jr., found the teenager guilty and ordered him
to return to court on Aug. 7 for sentencing on the four felonies.

Sykes of 7472 Canterbury Drive was arrested on March 16 when he
attempted to siphon gasoline from the unmarked vehicle of a sheriff's
detective who was on surveillance in an effort to catch the arsonist.

The teenager confessed to authorities that he was responsible for the
fire at an unoccupied condominium on Fountain Circle in Crystal
Waters Villas off Douglas Road on March 12 and the blaze two days
later on Brentridge Lane.

At the time of his arrest, Sykes told detectives he was an
environmentalist and was concerned with development and construction
of new houses in the area. He said the homes he started on fire were
picked randomly.

Prosecutor Bill Nichols said Sykes faces a minimum sentence of 3 to 5
1/2 years and the conviction carries a maximum punishment of 10
years. The plea agreement also calls for the teenager to pay
restitution to the victims.

"He pleaded to all counts as he was charged," Mr. Nichols said.

None of the victims whose homes were destroyed by the arsonist was
present in court for the pleading. Brian Wagner, who is the owner of
the home that is being rebuilt on Brentridge, said he was satisfied
the case has been resolved with a conviction.

"I hope that he can get some help and that when he gets out of prison
he will be a changed person," Mr. Wagner said.

Mr. Wagner said that he and his wife had to delay selling their
Sylvania Township home and drop the asking price while they restarted
construction of their dream home. He said they hoped to move into the
house in early August.

"You can't imagine what we went through," he said. "We get a little
nervous anytime that we smell smoke. It is something that will stay
with you for the rest of your life."

Sykes also confessed to detectives that he set an arson fire behind
the Kroger store at Sterns and Secor roads in Lambertville in 2006
that destroyed a semi trailer and filled the store with smoke and
that he torched a boat and trailer that same year.

The teenager also admitted to stealing an American flag from a
Lambertville residence and painting the anarchist symbol - the letter
"A" inside a circle - on it. The flag was found slightly burned in a
wooded area near the suspect's home in March.

He was not charged in connection with any of those incidents.

As a juvenile, Sykes was found delinquent in connection with arson
for setting fire to a field in Whiteford Township in 2006. He told
detectives that he tired of seeing forest being destroyed for the
construction of new homes.