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| Grand jury indicts inmate in jail fire |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 06/22/2004 |
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A grand jury today indicted a jail inmate on an arson charge for a fire two weeks ago that heavily damaged the Vanderburgh County (Ind.) Jail. Derek Fingers was indicted on two felony counts of arson, each carrying sentences of 20 to 50 years in prison, prosecutors said. The fire started June 8 in a third-floor cell holding 28 people, causing officials to evacuate all 369 inmates. At least five people were treated for smoke inhalation. Investigators soon named Fingers, 24, of Evansville, as their main suspect in the fire, which was started in a stack of mattresses and clothes. Fingers denied in an interview last week that he was involved with the fire, but said he was happy the jail burned because it drew attention to its overcrowded conditions. The jail was built for 268 inmates and was holding 101 more people than that at the time of the fire. Fingers' mother, who testified before the grand jury last Wednesday, said investigators jumped quickly to the conclusion that he was involved. Witnesses told investigators that another inmate helped Fingers start the fire by jamming metal foil into an electrical outlet to produce a spark. The grand jury, however, did not charge that inmate with the fire, concluding that he was acting under duress, which is a defense to the charge, prosecutors said. Part of the jail in the downtown Civic Center has been closed since the fire, with more than 200 inmates being jailed in other counties while repairs are made. Both indictments against Fingers involve arson causing bodily injury. One count specifies circumstances that endanger human life, with the other citing property damage of more than $5,000. Fingers was jailed awaiting trial on charges of burglary and being a habitual offender at the time of the fire. |
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