ST. LOUIS – A man faces at least five years in federal prison for setting fires at a hotel in St. Louis County, just north of Ferguson city limits.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Brandon D. Smith, 40, was indicted Wednesday on one count of arson.
Smith is accused of starting multiple fires at the Knights Inn Ferguson, located in the 2700 block of Target Drive, on March 26.
Guests at the hotel were awakened by a fire alarm just before 2:50 a.m. Two fires had been set in front of hotel rooms, and a third fire on the second-floor stairwell.
Prosecutors claim Smith purchased gas at a nearby gas station just before going to the hotel and setting the fires.
In addition to prison time, Smith could be fined up to $250,000 if he’s convicted.