Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Covington man, David Juarez, 39, was sentenced on Wednesday to 137 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning for arson and unlawful possession of a destructive device.
According to his plea agreement, between March 6 and 9, 2023, Juarez maliciously set fire to two structures, using an ignitable liquid and Molotov cocktails. Specifically, sometime before February 28, 2023, and then again sometime before March 5, 2023, Juarez burglarized an apartment in Covington. During each burglary, Juarez stole personal items belonging to the resident. On March 6, 2023, Juarez burglarized the apartment again and stole additional personal property; but before leaving, he poured and set fire to an ignitable liquid in two locations within the apartment.
On March 9, 2023, Juarez committed another arson, this time firebombing a restaurant in Covington. Juarez used the bottles of alcohol he had previously stolen in the first burglary to create Molotov cocktails, throwing them into the restaurant. The Covington Fire Department were able to extinguish the fire before the fire spread or caused significant damage.
Under federal law, Juarez must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Brian Valenti, Covington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and Covington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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