Former Virginia Tech student admits to apartment arsons

A former Virginia Tech student admits to being behind a series of arsons at a Blacksburg apartment complex.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Robert Lawson pleaded guilty to setting fires at Terrace View Apartments back in July, August, and September 2007.
Investigators say the timeline of the fires happened as follows:

• July 19, 2007: Around 9:55 p.m., Blacksburg firefighters responded to a 911 call from Lawson. The call said there was a fire in the basement common area used by tenants for storage and laundry in the 5500 building of Terrace View Apartments. The Fire Marshal ruled the fire suspicious.
• August 31, 2007: Around 3:07 a.m., Blacksburg firefighters responded to a call of a fire again in the 5500 building of Terrace View Apartments. The Fire Marshal ruled this fire was an arson, and that it was set in the water heater room of the building. Police and firefighters say they saw Lawson in the area while fighting the flames. Investigators say Lawson was seen holding a police scanner.
• September 20, 2007: Around 4:23 a.m., Blacksburg firefighters responded to a fire in building 5100 of Terrace View Apartments. The 5100 building is across the parking lot from building 5500. The Fire Marshal determined this fire was arson, and it was set in the storage unit area of the 5100 building. Police and firefighters say they again saw Lawson in the area, and that Lawson was one of the first four people to show up at the scene of the fire. Investigators say a hydrocarbon gas detector, which can detect trace amounts of accelerants after a fire, alerted them to the presence of hydrocarbon gas on Lawson.
• October 2007: Investigators charged Lawson with three counts of arson.

Lawson entered a plea agreement in U.S. Federal Court, that requires him to pay $73,801.87 in restitution.

Lawson faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced.