SEATTLE – The second man accused in a multimillion-dollar fire in Edmonds has pleaded guilty, the U.S. Attorney’s office said Wednesday.
Daniel William Shreve, 19, of Everett is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 9 in U.S. District Court. He pleaded guilty Oct. 10 to two counts of arson for starting the $5 million fire at a condominium complex under construction in Edmonds, and starting a smaller blaze at a Bothell research company.
The Dec. 17 fire at The Gregory in the 500 block of Fifth Avenue S. in Edmonds destroyed the 90,000-square-foot building.
Shreve could serve a term between five and 20 years behind bars.
Both he and co-defendant Random Haug, 22, also of Everett, will be required to make restitution, between $2.5 million and $7 million, according to the plea agreement.
Haug pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit arson for his role in the fires. He pleaded guilty earlier this month. Haug could be sentenced to four years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 2.
Federal court documents said the two men and a teenager wanted to start a fire just to watch a big building burn.
On Jan. 12, Haug and Shreve also admitted to driving with others to Alder Biopharmaceuticals Inc. in Bothell. An ignited propane tank was thrown through the front window of the research company.
According to documents, the tank burned temporarily and charred the floor before going out.
The condo fire, investigation and cleanup disrupted traffic in downtown Edmonds for weeks. The structure is being rebuilt.
Along with the two adults, a teenage boy is being prosecuted in Snohomish County Juvenile Court for the condominium fire. The now-18-year-old pleaded guilty to arson in June, and is scheduled for sentencing next month.
According to documents, Haug, Shreve, the teen and a girl had been at a birthday party in Edmonds the night before the early-morning condo fire. Afterward, they filled half a small juice bottle with gasoline, according to court documents.
Shreve told investigators the group targeted The Gregory because some friends were working on the project, and they knew it would be unoccupied, documents said.
They allegedly lit the bottle, threw it into the building and then drove up the hill and watched it burn for 20 minutes.
They returned a second time after filling up a larger juice bottle with gas at a nearby station to create a bigger fire. This time they allegedly threw the gas on a stairway and a hall and lit it, according to court records.
They returned once again and threw additional materials to burn on the fire, charging documents say.
About two hours later, the group came back to watch as the building was engulfed in flames. Shreve told investigators it was a “nice fire,” and Haug described it as a “cool fire,” according to court papers.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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