[CPProt.net] Homeless man acquitted in library fire

[Museum Security Network / Cultural Property Protection Net (Ton Cremers)]

Homeless man acquitted in library fire

The Associated Press - ATHENS, Ga.

A 20-year-old homeless man did not start a 2003 fire that caused $17 million
in damage to the University of Georgia's Main Library, a jury ruled
Thursday.

Jason Nelms was acquitted of two counts of first-degree arson in Clarke
County Superior Court after a weeklong trial. Jury forewoman Brenda Crumley
said jurors were not convinced prosecutors presented physical evidence
connecting Nelms to the July 23, 2003, blaze that heavily damaged the
library's second floor and sent smoke throughout the building.

Nelms was found not guilty despite videotaped interviews in which he first
said he was never at the library, then admitted to accidentally setting the
fire when he went to the second floor looking for a shower. He said he
smoked a cigarette and discarded a match, which started a fire that got out
of control.

Juror Tommy Brightwell said he believed police took advantage of Nelms
because he was homeless and forced him to confess.

"The boy was homeless, and they said they'd give him food, mentioned a
$10,000 reward, and then an officer began yelling and cussing at the boy
that he did it," Brightwell told the Athens Banner-Herald after the trial.

If found guilty, Nelms could have been sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in
prison.