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Date: 08-18-2022
Case Style:
United States of America v. Rodney Boyles
Case Number: 4:21-cr-00153-BCW
Judge: Brian C. Wimes
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri (Jackson County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney: 
Description: Kansas City, Missouri criminal lawyer represented Defendant charged with arson.
Rodney Boyles, 36, was indicted for setting an apartment building on fire injuring one apartment building resident who was intubated for approximately nine days in the hospital while being treated for smoke inhalation injuries she sustained from the fire.
On Feb. 10, 2022, Boyles pleaded guilty to one count of arson. Boyles admitted that he intentionally set fire to a four-story apartment building at 1102-1104 Benton Boulevard in Kansas City, Mo., on Jan. 13, 2021. The apartment building was occupied at the time of the fire. Three occupants of the apartment building sustained serious injuries because of the fire and were transported to the hospital for treatment. The building sustained significant fire damage on all four floors of the structure.
Fire investigators determined the fire had been intentionally set. One of the residents of the apartment building told investigators that Boyles had been staying in one of the apartments with his girlfriend and her son. Investigators interviewed Boyles on Thursday, May 27, and arrested him.
Boyles told investigators he was under the influence of a controlled substance when he used a cigarette lighter to start the fire in a storage room in the apartment. After starting the fire, Boyles said, he quickly left the building with his girlfriend, their 4-year-old son, and another female.
Investigators interviewed several victims of the arson. One resident, identified in court documents as “TN,” exited her third-floor apartment using the interior stairwell. She recalled the smoke being so thick in the interior stairwell that she could not see her hand in front of her face. She was transported to the hospital, where she was intubated for approximately nine days while being treated for smoke inhalation injuries she sustained from the fire.
Another resident, identified in court documents as “BF,” was asleep in the living room when he woke up and smelled smoke. He passed out in the apartment and was rescued by firefighters. He was treated at the hospital for partial thickness burns to his face, acute respiratory failure with hypoxia, carbon monoxide and cyanide poisoning, pneumonia, and volume overload. He was placed in a medically induced coma during his hospitalization.
Two residents, identified in court documents as “RF” and “NF,” were forced by heavy smoke to exit their apartment through a front window that provided access onto a second-floor overhang so they could jump to safety. RF broke his wrist and ankle after jumping onto the ground below; he was hospitalized for 14 days as a result of his injuries.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Outcome: 08/18/2022 42 Minute Entry for proceedings held before District Judge Brian C. Wimes: SENTENCING held on 8/18/2022 for Rodney Boyles (1), Count(s) 1.
Counsel appear as indicated. Defendant appears in person. There are no objections to the PSR.
Court sentences defendant to the custody of the BOP for 96 months; TSR: 3 years; SA $100; No Fine; Restitution - $12,500; Defendant advised of the right to appeal. Defendant remanded to the custody of the USM.
Counsel appearing for USA: Mike Green. Counsel appearing for Defendant: Marc Ermine, AFPD. Pretrial/Probation Officer: Lynn Berry. Time in court: 2:35 pm to 3:05 pm. To order a transcript of this hearing please contact Annisa Justice, 816-512-5622, annisa_justice@mow.uscourts.gov. This is a TEXT ONLY ENTRY. No document is attached. (Diefenbach, Tracy) (Entered: 08/18/2022)
08/18/2022 43 JUDGMENT and COMMITMENT as to Rodney Boyles. The defendant pleaded guilty to count(s) 1 on 2/10/2022. IMPRISONMENT: 96 months as to count 1. SUPERVISED RELEASE: three (3) years. MANDATORY CONDITIONS and SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION. CRIMINAL MONETARY PENALTIES: MSA: $100.00 no fine, Restitution: $12,500.00. Signed on 8/18/2022 by District Judge Brian C. Wimes.(Ellis, Lindsey) (Entered: 08/18/2022)
08/18/2022 44 STATEMENT OF REASONS (Sealed) as to Rodney Boyles.
Per United States Judicial Conference policy, only authorized recipients shall be provided a copy of the Statement of Reasons absent express prior written authorization from this Court. Distribution is limited to the applicable defense counsel, the AUSA, the Financial Litigation Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office, and Probation/Pretrial Services. Defense counsel are specifically prohibited from providing a copy of the Statement of Reasons to any defendant for any reason. Pro se defendants are also prohibited from obtaining a copy of the Statement of Reasons.
NOTICE: Document is available to applicable parties only. Authorized users enter PACER login and password first for authentication. The case AUSA shall forward this document to the Financial Litigation Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Signed on 8/18/22 by District Judge Brian C. Wimes.(Ellis, Lindsey) (Entered: 08/18/2022)
The defendant pleaded guilty to count(s) 1 on 2/10/2022. IMPRISONMENT: 96 months as to count 1. SUPERVISED RELEASE: three (3) years. MANDATORY CONDITIONS and SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION. CRIMINAL MONETARY PENALTIES: MSA: $100.00 no fine, Restitution: $12,500.00.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: