PRESS RELEASE
June 20 , 2008
Lexington, Ky. —A Lexington man, Michael D. Mitchell, pleaded not guilty today in U.S. Federal District Court to an arson charge accusing him of starting the fire that damaged the Kirklevington Apartment complex in February of 2007. If convicted the 25-year-old Mitchell could receive up to a 20 year sentence in prison.
Testimony from an ATFE agent at the ensuing detention hearing revealed that on Feb. 26, 2007, a fire was started in the owners’ apartment that caused water damage to two other apartments. The agent stated that fingerprints on a gallon of Rain X, used to ignite the fire, matched Mitchell’s prints. In addition, the ATFE agent said that the keys to the owners’ apartment were left in a visible spot inside their vehicle. However, the agent testified that following the fire the owners noticed a gallon of Rain X missing from the back of their vehicle. Investigation at the owners apartment revealed that there was no forced entry.
Testimony revealed the day prior to the fire, Lexington Police received a call from Mitchell stating that he saw a white male getting in and out of unlocked cars in the apartment complex. The agent also stated in court that Mitchell said in the 911 call that he pursued this individual and claimed to later have found the car located at the Meadows, an apartment complex across the street. However, the agent said fingerprints and investigation didn’t link this individual to the crime.
Two other fires occurred at the Kirklevington apartments in months prior to the one on February 26 but evidence does not link Mitchell to those fires. More testimony from the agent revealed that the apartment owners confirmed that Mitchell complained about the fires and other things, and wanted to void his lease. The ATFE agent testified that the owners specifically told Mitchell that mortgage bindings prevented them from absolving him from his lease obligation since his apartment unit was not directly effected by the fires.
Mitchell worked for Central Baptist Hospital as an emergency room technician starting in May of 2006 but was terminated in January 2008. Mitchell was arrested on Monday pursuant a federal indictment.
Mitchell is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court on August 18th for a jury trial. Mitchell currently remains in Federal Custody until a decision is made on whether he will be released on bond.
James A. Zerhusen, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Paul J. Vido, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATFE -Louisville Division) and the Lexington Fire Department jointly made the announcement today.