SEATTLE — Two men have pleaded guilty to charges related to involvement in a multimillion-dollar blaze that destroyed a condominium under construction in downtown Edmonds Dec. 17.
Random S. Haug, 21, of Everett, pleaded guilty earlier this month to two counts of conspiracy to commit arson, including an admission of a role in the fire at The Gregory condominium complex in the 500 block of Fifth Avenue S. He also admitted a role in a second arson at Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., in Bothell, in January, according to papers filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
Under a plea agreement, Haug can expect to serve about four years in prison. He also promised to cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of co-defendant Daniel W. Shreve, 18, also of Everett.
Haug is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 2 in U.S. District Court.
Shreve pleaded guilty this month to two counts of arson for starting the fire at the Edmonds condo complex and a smaller blaze Jan. 12 at Alder Biopharmaceuticals. He is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 9 in U.S. District Court.
Besides the two adults, a teenage boy is being prosecuted in Snohomish County Juvenile Court for the condo fire. The now-18-year-old pleaded guilty to arson in June and is scheduled for sentencing Nov. 17.
Haug and Shreve also will be responsible for paying restitution of between $2.5 million and $7 million, according to the plea agreements.
Bob Gregg, developer of The Gregory condominiums, said he thinks it’s unlikely he will receive significant restitution for his loss, but would like to see the arsonists pay “10 bucks a month for the rest of their lives.
“It’s a consequence for their actions. They should be reminded of that every day of their lives,” said Gregg, who added he’s “not mad” about the arson but believes the arsonists should be held accountable for their actions.
He is rebuilding the complex, which he said should be ready for occupancy by the end of March 2007.
Federal court documents said the two men and the teenager wanted to start a fire just to watch a big building burn. The blaze in the 90,000-square-foot building caused at least $4.5 million in damage.
Haug, Shreve, the teen and a girl (who was not charged) had been at a birthday party in Edmonds the night before the early-morning 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 service 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 on the fire, charging documents say.
About two hours later, the group returned 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.
Earlier that morning, the men threw improvised Molotov cocktails at a billboard and in the street, documents said.
Jim Haley is a writer for The Herald in Everett. Sue Waldburger, writer for The Enterprise, contributed to this article.
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