On December 5th, 2022, Jeremy Hawkins, a former West Lanham Hills volunteer firefighter, was sentenced in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County for Arson in the First Degree and Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Arson. He was sentenced to 15 years on each count with all but time-served suspended, three years of supervised probation, and ordered to complete 120 hours of community service. Hawkins is the last of the former firefighters to be sentenced. All have been barred from having any involvement with fire suppression activities.
An investigation that began in December 2019, and continued through June 2020, revealed that five West Lanham Hills volunteer firefighters: Jeremy Hawkins, Jay St. John, Cole Vazquez, George Smith, and Nicholas Holzberger, conspired with civilians Giancarlo Reyes and Francis Ortiz Oro, to set four vacant houses on fire. The arsons were committed during times that the former volunteers were on duty at the fire station, and in locations where the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Station would have primary responsibility for fire suppression efforts. Thankfully, there were no injuries to any civilians, residents, or Department personnel during these incidents, however, significant property damage occurred.
FORMER FIREFIGHTER SENTENCES:
June 1, 2022 - Holzberger was sentenced to 15 years with all but time-served suspended, five years of supervised probation and 120 hours of community service for the crime of Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Arson.
August 15, 2022 - St. John was sentenced to 15 years with all but time-served suspended, five years of supervised probation for the crime of Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Arson.
August 29, 2022 - Smith was sentenced to two years of supervised probation for the crime of Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Arson.
October 1, 2022 - Vasquez was sentenced to 15 years with all but time-served suspended, three years of supervised probation, and 120 hours of community service for the crimes of Arson in the First Degree and Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Arson.
CIVILIAN SENTENCES:
September 20, 2022 – Reyes was sentenced to five years with all but time-served suspended, and five years of supervised probation on the charge of Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Arson.
September 23, 2022 – On the charge of Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Arson, Ortiz Oro was sentenced to 10 years with all but time-served suspended. On the charge of Arson Second Degree – Statutory Burning, he was sentenced to five years with all but time-served suspended. On both counts, he was sentenced to two years of supervised probation, three years of unsupervised probation, and ordered to complete 80 hours of community service assisting burn victims.
“Monday’s sentencing closes the chapter on a difficult time for the department,” said Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department Fire Chief, Tiffany D. Green. “I want to thank our Fire Investigators and Arson Task Force for conducting a swift and thorough investigation that prevented injuries and further property damage. I especially want to make clear that the actions of these few in no way reflect upon the hundreds of dedicated volunteer firefighters who proudly serve our community each and every day.”
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