Federal Grand Jury Files Indictment Charging David Hickman with Using Fire to Damage or Destroy Building Used in Interstate Commerce

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment yesterday afternoon charging David A. Hickman, 28, of Albuquerque, N.M., with using fire to damage and destroy a building used in interstate commerce.  Hickman is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on Jan. 3, 2017.

The indictment alleges that on Nov. 26, 2016, Hickman maliciously damaged and destroyed, and attempted to damage and destroy, by means of fire, a building, an Old Navy store located in Albuquerque, used in interstate commerce.

Hickman was arrested on Nov. 28, 2016 on a criminal complaint alleging the same offense as the crime charged in the indictment.  He remains in federal custody pending trial on judicial findings that he poses a risk of flight and a danger to the community.

According to the criminal complaint, officers of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) arrested Hickman in the early hours of Nov. 26, 2016, and later transferred him into the custody of the FBI.  Hickman was arrested shortly after an APD officer responded to the Pavilions at San Mateo shopping center after hearing “small explosions” coming from the area.  The criminal complaint alleges that, when the officer arrived at the shopping center, he observed Hickman running into and out of the Old Navy store located in the shopping center, which was on fire.

If convicted on the crime charged in the indictment, Hickman faces a statutory penalty of not less than five years and not more than 20 years in prison.  Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law. 

The investigation of this case, which is continuing, is being conducted by the Albuquerque Division of the FBI, ATF in Albuquerque, ATF’s National Response Team, APD and the Albuquerque Fire Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred J. Federici is prosecuting the case.