Deputy Sgt. Guilty of Arson
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Maryland-- A Frederick County Circuit Court jury has found a sergeant with the sheriff's office guilty of second-degree arson. Randy Dorsey, 38, of Knoxville, will be sentenced Nov. 9 by Judge Julie Stevenson Solt. The crime carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in the Maryland Division of Correction. Eight women and four men deliberated about 21Ú2 hours before returning their unanimous verdict. "I'm disappointed," Dorsey's attorney, Christopher Flohr, said outside the courtroom. Dorsey, a 14-year law enforcement veteran, declined comment. The conviction stems from a Sept. 2, 2006, fire that destroyed an SUV belonging to his live-in girlfriend, Elizabeth Lauren Anderson, 28. After six hours of testimony during the three-day trial, jurors were persuaded Dorsey set Anderson's 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer on fire near Buckeystown in an insurance fraud scheme. Flohr did not present a defense, indicating he did not believe the state had proven its case. When the decision was announced, Dorsey stood motionless, his hands clasped in front of him. Behind him, Anderson burst into tears. His mother put her head in her hands. During closing arguments, Flohr said sloppy work by fire investigators and police made proving his client's innocence difficult. He also attacked Dale Williams, Dorsey's friend. Williams testified Wednesday that, at Dorsey's request, he initially provided him an alibi. He later recanted his statements to fire investigators. "If you're trying to set up an alibi, Dale Williams ain't the guy," said Flohr of Williams, who had to acknowledge a relationship with his wife's niece during testimony. John D. Lalos, a special prosecutor with the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office, chastised Flohr for mounting a sophomoric defense by "dirtying up the investigation." "This is not 'CSI,' ladies and gentlemen," Lalos said. "Attack the state's witnesses É it's smoke and mirrors. It's shameful to malign Dale Williams for telling the truth." Lalos said Williams recanted when he saw himself being dragged into a legal quagmire. In turn, he's facing marital difficulties. "Do you think he was thrilled to be here and talk about the personal details of his life?" Lalos said. "To expose a relationship with a woman who was not his wife?" Lalos said Dorsey became a suspect after a fire investigator met with him in person and noticed burns on his face. "Fire Marshal (K. Arthur) McGhee went where the evidence took him," Lalos said. "When he sees the man has burns, it was impossible to ignore Randy Dorsey." Flohr wondered aloud why fire investigators neglected to pursue the theory that an angry criminal could be setting up Dorsey or Anderson, a Brunswick Police Department officer when the SUV was torched. The City of Brunswick fired her in October, weeks after she was arrested. The next month, the charges were dropped because Lalos did not believe there was significant evidence to proceed. Anderson was not called testify. Dorsey remains on suspension without pay from the sheriff's office. "We are aware of his conviction, and an internal investigation is moving forward," said Cpl. Jennifer Bailey, sheriff's office spokeswoman. Dorsey is free on $30,000 bail, pending sentencing. | ||||
