A romantic trio from Vermont has pleaded guilty to arson charges after attempting insurance fraud.
Ralph Brown, Jr., 41, of Bennington, pleaded guilty to second degree arson for torching the house in which he, his wife, and her boyfriend lived in. The state agreed to reduce a first degree arson charge Brown faced and drop additional charges of first degree arson, insurance fraud, conspiracy and second degree aggravated domestic assault.
The insurance money collected, Brown told police, was to go toward a medical procedure that would allow his wife to become pregnant.
His wife, Stacy Brown, 34, pleaded no contest in July to lying to police and was given a suspended sentence of 6 months to a year. Charges of arson with the intent to defraud an insurer, conspiracy and accessory before the fact, were dropped by the state.
Stacy's 26-year-old boyfriend, Joseph Thomas, pleaded guilty to second degree arson and was given a suspended sentence of one to five years. The state agreed to drop a second arson charge and charges of conspiracy and insurance fraud.
Both Ralph and Thomas were local volunteer firefighters.
The Browns and Thomas devised and executed the plan in February 2010. Before spreading the flames, the men removed valuables such as family photos and pet birds worth $1,800.
According to authorities, Thomas went into the basement and twisted two electrical wires together, making them spark. Stacy picked up the pair in a get-a-way car as the wires sparked merrily away.
The blaze caused about $40,000 in damage. The monies, however, were not enough to cover the medical procedure. So Ralph and Thomas went back to the charred home to attempt total destruction. Ralph first tried a propane torch in the basement, authorities report, but that didn't work. Finally, he ignited a child's play room on the second floor. Stacy again picked up the pair and drove them away.
After they were busted, Stacy denied knowing about the plot even though she was in the same room when Brown and Thomas hatched the scheme. She again drove the get-a-way car.
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