Arson Defendant Sentenced to 40 Months, Told Police, ‘I Am The Creator’

By Jeff Levine - August 23, 2024
Burglary | Daily Stories | Shooting |

A defendant who pleaded guilty in connection to arson and a non-fatal shooting incident was sentenced to 40 months in prison by DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer DiToro on Aug. 23.  

“Your mental health challenges are significant,” Judge DiToro told Robert Crowder, 33 as he repeatedly interrupted her asking for clarification of his sentence. 

Crowder pleaded guilty to a property destruction charge as well as unlawful possession of a firearm. He was given credit for time served

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to reports of gunfire at an apartment building on the 1100 block of 2nd Place, SE on Aug. 22, 2023.  When they arrived they heard shots coming from the inside of one of the apartments which Crowder occupied and had deliberately set on fire. 

Several windows were shattered during the shooting and the DC Fire Department had to be called to put out the blaze.  

During her sentencing recommendation, the prosecutor said Crowder told police, “I am the creator.  I lit the whole place on fire.”  Also, “You know what the f*** I did.”

Crowder originally faced an eight count indictment for arson, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, destruction of property of $1,000 or more, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, endangerment with a firearm and unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. 

The prosecutor called an investigator from the DC Fire Department who said the blaze was not likely caused by cigarettes as Crowder claimed at one point.  Further, the witness said firefighters were put in danger during the call because “they are not trained to respond to shots fired through a window.”

Since his arrest, Crowder has been detained at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital where he underwent a psychiatric examination.  He was initially found incompetent to stand trial, but his competency was restored enabling disposition of the case.  

In addition to the jail time, Crowder will serve five years of high intensity supervised probation during which he must avoid illicit drugs and avail himself of “holistic” and “comprehensive” mental health services.  He must also pay $200 into the victims of violent crime fund.

Crowder’s attorney, John Sample, unsuccessfully asked for a reduced probation, calling five years “excessive” and said it was “setting him up to fail.”  An issue for Crowder, said Sample, is that, “He wants to help the world.”

With Crowder’s competency restored Judge DiToro ordered him transferred to the DC Jail to serve the remainder of his sentence.  

“It won’t happen again,” he told the judge.