Miles Andrew Caldwell, a 20-year-old from Little Rock, Arkansas, has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for starting fires at two fitness centers in Little Rock. The sentence was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and handed down by United States District Judge James M. Moody Jr.
The investigation revealed that on November 16, 2023, Caldwell set fires at the Little Rock Athletic Club and later the same day at 10 Fitness on North Rodney Parham Road. At the first location, he started a fire in the men’s restroom that led to smoke filling the tennis hallway and causing an evacuation of children and staff from a daycare center. The second incident involved setting fire to a toilet paper dispenser in the men’s restroom at 10 Fitness.
Security footage helped identify Caldwell as the suspect in both incidents. He was arrested on November 20, 2023, following a federal complaint and indicted by a grand jury on December 5, 2023. Caldwell pleaded guilty to one count of arson committed at the Little Rock Athletic Club.
In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Moody sentenced Caldwell to three years of supervised release. It is noted that there is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation was carried out by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from local fire and police departments. Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary prosecuted the case.
