MALTBY — Construction industry officials are warning builders to take extra precautions against arson and vandalism at construction sites this weekend in advance of a scheduled court date for a woman convicted of arson.
The woman convicted of playing a role in the 2001 burning of the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture was to be sentenced Monday. A federal judge on Friday postponed the sentencing.
Still, building officials are warning developers to be careful this weekend. They say they are worried about the potential for more fires similar to those that destroyed homes on the Street of Dreams in March.
“We’re urging extra caution at job sites, especially those with vacant buildings,” said Allison Butcher, a spokeswoman for the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish County.
Briana Waters was scheduled to be sentenced Monday in federal court in Tacoma. Federal prosecutors have asked for a 10-year sentence for her role in the 2001 blaze. She was accused of being the lookout for a crew that caused millions of dollars in damage to the university building.
Neil Fox, one of Waters’ attorneys, said the sentencing was rescheduled after he filed a motion asking for time to investigate new evidence provided by federal prosecutors. There is now reason to believe a key witness against Waters provided misleading testimony, he said. Prosecutors countered that more substantial evidence tied Waters to the crime.
Fox said his client is innocent and it is improper to connect her to fires that happened in Snohomish County during her trial.
“We are really sorry that someone set these fires. It has nothing to do with us and it hurts my client,” he said. “We feel like these fires contributed to the climate of fear that unfortunately helped cause her conviction.”
On March 3, during Waters’ trial, arsonists caused $7 million damage when they destroyed three luxury homes and damaged two more at the Street of Dreams near Echo Lake.
Officials suspect domestic terrorists set the fires. A banner left near the fires was signed ELF, the initials of the Earth Liberation Front, a group that’s taken responsibility in the past for starting fires. The FBI and ATF are investigating.
Building officials suspect potential terrorist acts could be timed to disrupt Waters’ sentencing, Butcher said.
Builders use a variety of security measures, including hiring guards, installing surveillance video and using bright lights at job sites, Butcher said.
“We’re just being extra cautious and we thought that (alerting members) was a prudent step to take,” she said.
Anyone who sees suspicious activity is asked to call police.
Associated Press Writer Gene Johnson contributed to this report.
Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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