Vasile Graure, the man convicted of setting fire to Glover Park strip club Good Guys in 2007, was sentenced to 30 years in prison yesterday. I covered Graure’s trial in-depth last year.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery.

Vasile Graure, the Arizona truck driver convicted of setting fire to Glover Park strip club Good Guys in 2007, will be sentenced tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. The sentencing has been postponed several times already this year. Maybe tomorrow, we’ll finally get it over with.

On November 20, 2008, Graure was convicted of the following charges:

Read More “Good Guys Arsonist to Be Sentenced Tomorrow” »

The U.S. Attorney’s Office informs me that today’s sentencing of Vasile Graure—the man convicted of setting fire to Glover Park strip club Good Guys—has been continued until March 20. This is the second continuance for Graure—his original sentencing date was set for January 13.

Vasile Graure,the 38-year-old Arizona truck driver convicted of setting fire to Glover Park strip club Good Guys last year, will be sentenced today by Judge Robert I. Richter. As I reported in November, Graure was convicted on thirteen counts—including assault with intent to kill, assault with a dangerous weapon, arson, and mayhem. At that time, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia provided some information about the statutory maximum sentences for each of Graure’s charges:

- Assault With Intent to Kill While Armed (three counts): 30 years per count
- Assault With a Dangerous Weapon (four counts): 10 years per count
- Aggravated Assault While Armed: 30 years
- Mayhem While Armed: 30 years
- Arson: 10 years
- Burglary II While Armed (two counts): 30 years per count
- Felony Destruction of Property: 10 years

I’ll update later today with Richter’s decision. Until then, you can read my comprehensive trial coverage here. It was a doozy.

The week in the Sexist:

1. Good Guys Trial: What Graure Could Face
2. In Defense of Abstinence-Only Vampirism
3. Capitol Pill: Rite Aid
4. Pro-Choice? Would You Perform an Abortion?
5. Sarah Palin Thanksgiving Video Corner

Photo by jpcolasso

Yesterday, Vasile Graure was convicted on thirteen counts—including assault with intent to kill, assault with a dangerous weapon, arson, and mayhem—in connection with the fire that ravaged Glover Park strip club Good Guys last year. A sentencing hearing in the case won’t be held until Jan. 13 of next year, but the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia provided some information about the statutory maximum sentences for each of Graure’s charges:

Read More “Good Guys Trial: What Graure Could Face” »

The jury returned its verdict today in the trial of Vasile Graure, the truck driver accused of setting fire to Glover Park strip club Good Guys last year. Graure was convicted of the following charges:

- Three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed

- Four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon

- One count of aggravated assault while armed

- One count of mayhem while armed

- Two counts of burglary in the second degree while armed

- One count of arson

- One count of felony destruction of property

Graure’s sentencing hearing will be held in January.

The jury in the trial of Vasile Graure began its deliberations today at 3 p.m. Fifteen jurors, four women and 11 men, sat through the trial. Today, three were dismissed, but held on call in case another juror is forced to drop out in the middle of deliberation. The now-12 member jury—ten male, two female—must decide whether Graure is guilty or not on seven counts of assault with intent to kill, one count of aggravated assault, one count of mayhem, two of burglary, one of arson, and one of property destruction exceeding $200. I’ll update when the jury delivers its verdict.

Defense attorney Premal Dharia made a closing argument this morning in the case against her client, Vasile Graure. Dharia characterized the prosecution’s case a “story.”

“That’s all it is, ladies and gentleman,” she said. “A story. . . . bits and pieces of information cobbled together with a lot of assumptions.” Dharia referred to Graure as “a truck driver. A patron of the Good Guys club. A regular man, just like all of us.” She proceeded to outline the assumptions implicit in the prosecution’s case.

Read More “Good Guys Trial: The Defense Closes” »

Prosecutors delivered their closing arguments this morning in the case against Vasile Graure, a truck driver accused of setting fire to Glover Park strip club Good Guys last year. Graure is charged with seven counts of assault with intent to kill, one count of arson, two of burglary, and one of mayhem.

“Don’t play with fire,” prosecutor Kacie Weston said. “This is what we’re taught since we are very young, because of the damage it causes and the speed with which it causes that damage.” She continued, “Vasile Graure used fire as his own personal weapon to get even. . . to burn that building to the ground and kill everyone inside.”

Read More “Good Guys Trial: The Prosecution Closes” »