Warrenville man convicted of residential arson in 2016 Palatine fire
A Warrenville man who rejected a plea bargain that would have given him probation could serve up to 15 years in prison after he was found guilty Friday of arson and residential arson for setting fire to his former home in Palatine.
Richard Moss, 44, faces a minimum of four years and a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced, possibly as early as Feb. 28. Probation is not an option.
No one was injured in the March 6, 2016, fire that originated in the basement utility room of Moss' former home on the 1000 block of Penny Lane in Palatine. Palatine arson expert Lt. Matthew Nagy investigated the blaze and determined it was intentionally set by someone who ignited mattresses stored in the room. A separate insurance company investigation corroborated Nagy's finding.
Moss, who showed little emotion throughout the four-day bench trial, remained impassive as Cook County Judge Joseph Cataldo recounted the evidence and announced his finding.
Calling Moss' crime "dangerous and violent," Cataldo ordered Moss be taken into custody. The judge added that Moss poses a danger to the community and "has some anger issues and some stability issues."
Prosecutors described Moss as a man whose "life was in shambles."
According to prosecutors, Moss told several people he had been out of work for years and was going through a divorce. He told those same people he was paying $6,000 per month in child support and a $3,000 monthly mortgage and the house was in foreclosure.
On the day of the fire, prosecutors said, Moss argued with his girlfriend, who struck him with her car when he tried to prevent her from driving away about 30 minutes before he reported the fire.
Cataldo stated that Moss had a motive to set the fire and the opportunity to do so since he was home alone. Cataldo also referenced statements Moss made to questions authorities never asked. He told authorities, for example, that he did not set the fire because his hands were not burned, even though no one asked him about his hands.
"Throughout his interviews you can see the shifting sands of the defendant's guilty mind," Cataldo said.