Convicted arsonist Antun Lewis, 30, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for setting a house fire that killed nine people, including a woman and eight children, reports USA Today.
It was the deadliest fire in Cleveland’s history. The prosecutors and the the victims’ families had asked for life in prison.
Lewis was found guilty twice by federal juries.
There was powerful and graphic testimony from Battallion Fire Chief Patrick Mangan who described the sights, sounds and smells of the deadly inferno.
In that house fire, killed were: Fakih Jones, age 7; Malee’ya Williams, age 12; Shauntavia Mitchell, age 12; Earnest Tate, Jr., age 13; Miles Golden Cockfield, age 13; Antwon Jackson, Jr., age 14; Moses Williams Jr., age 14; Devonte Carter, age 15, and Medeia Carter, 33.
Lewis will get credit for time already served so his sentence will be less than 35 years.
“This defendant is responsible for taking nine innocent lives. A coward in the night, he also stole the hopes and dreams of these families, who will never get to experience high school graduations, weddings, or the other things they had a right to enjoy. Nothing can ever erase the pain this defendant caused, and our hearts go to them all. Their grace and dignity in the face of this tragedy is humbling,” said U.S. Attorney Steve Dettelbach.
Read more of the story here http://usat.ly/UqUZC9
