Published: July 24, 2008 08:14 am      

Gas theft case sent to grand jury

The case of a Richmond man whose idea to siphon and steal gas ended in an expensive blaze is headed to the grand jury.

Justin Ryan Hyatt, 19, appeared Wednesday before Madison District Judge Brandy O. Brown to face charges of first-degree criminal mischief stemming from a massive automotive fire March 6 at Valentine Honda.

Multiple vehicles at the dealership on the Robert R. Martin Bypass were found engulfed in flames by the Richmond Fire Depart-ment. After the blaze cooled, more than $200,000 in SUVS were found damaged beyond repair.

The follow-up investigation by Richmond Police Detective B.J. O’Donnell identified Hyatt as the suspect.

In district court, O’ Donnell elaborated on the tips that led to Hyatt’s arrest, saying an anonymous female juvenile first called authorities.

“She said that she had e-mails from him and pictures of Hyatt with his face burned,” O’Donnell said.

The female also stated that she had learned from talking with Hyatt about certain aspects of the crime that were not public knowledge.

“She mentioned a drill, a gas can and a yellow lens from a light,” O’Donnell said. “I knew that those facts were consistent with the evidence at the scene and that it wasn’t public record.”

Hyatt also wrote in his e-mails to the unidentified juvenile that he was not going to turn himself into police because “that’s jail for life,” O’Donnell said.

The e-mails and other information led to a warrant being issued for Hyatt’s residence, specifying the need to confiscate his computer and to obtain a sample of Hyatt’s fingerprints, O’Donnell said. Police also interrogated Hyatt after his arrest and during that questioning, Hyatt admitted to starting the fire.

“He said he knew when he left the house he was going to steal gas,” O’Donnell said. “He said he drilled holes in seven of the vehicles and on the seventh, it caught fire.”

O’Donnell said Kentucky State Police are still in the process of analyzing data from Hyatt’s computer and fingerprint samples. He also said the KSP may look toward Hyatt on another gas theft case, but did not specify where that may have taken place.

Brown ruled there was probable cause in the case to send it to a grand jury, which will decide if an indictment is forthcoming.

Hyatt is lodged in the Madison County Detention Center on a $250,000 cash bond. A charge of first-degree criminal mischief is a Class D felony punishable by imprisonment of one to five years.

Heather Harris can be reached at hharris@richmondregister.com or by phone at 624-6694.