Washington, D.C. – A 37-year-old Southeast District of Columbia woman, Katrina Holloway, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for setting her uncle’s home on fire, leaving the family homeless, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor announced today.

Holloway received her sentence yesterday in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the Honorable Harold L. Cushenberry, Jr. In July 2008, a jury found Holloway
guilty of Arson, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Knife), Felony Destruction of Property, and two counts of Felony Threats.

The evidence at trial established that on April 20, 2008, Holloway was at her uncle’s home located in the 5200 block of Drake Place, SE, Washington, D.C. (PSA 604), when she got involved in an argument with him over some leftover food and whether she could stay in the home. Holloway attacked her uncle with a knife and threatened to stab him. She then threatened to burn down his house, and as her uncle ran next door to call 911, Holloway said to two other eyewitnesses in the house, “You might as well leave out, because I’m going to burn this place down.” With two witnesses still inside, Holloway lit some newspaper at the kitchen stove, then walked into the living room and put the burning newspaper under the cushion of a loveseat. The chair ignited and the fire spread throughout the entire front end of the house, destroying most of the house and leaving the family homeless.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Taylor expressed his appreciation to the D.C. Fire and Rescue Arson Investigations Unit and the Metropolitan Police Department, and particularly praised the work of D.C. Arson Investigator Kenneth Kittrell. U.S. Attorney Taylor also commended the work of Legal Assistant Nicole Lee, Paralegal Eugena Johnson, and Victim Advocate Maria Shumar. Finally, he commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Sroka who indicted and prosecuted the case.