Judge gives man 20-year sentence for arson in LR
The Grind bistros targeted
A Pulaski County man indicted last year in connection with fires set at two Little Rock locations was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison last week for arson.
Trent Tyrone Smith, 50, of Little Rock, appeared Monday before U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky, who sentenced Smith to the maximum penalty allowed for the offense based upon both his crimes and a history of violence.
On March 3, 2022, the Little Rock Fire Department responded to several calls for service at two separate locations of The Grind Coffee Bistro on Cantrell Road and E. 21st St., both in Little Rock. Fire crews initially responded to a water flow alarm at the Cantrell Road location — an indication the facility’s sprinkler system had been activated — but were unable to locate the source. A short time later, a fire was reported at the intersection of East 21st and Commerce streets, and upon arrival firefighters found the front door locked and saw fire and smoke through the windows of the business.
Later that evening, firefighters responded a second time to The Grind Coffee Bistro to find smoke coming from the building and upon entry, found two fires in the kitchen area and one in a storage room. On further investigation, records said, firefighters discovered an overturned can of gas in the bathroom. Court records said the can was similar to two 2-gallon Scepter-brand gas cans Smith had purchased from Walmart on East McCain Boulevard.
An investigation revealed that the owner of The Grind Coffee Bistro had recently ended a relationship with Smith and that on Feb. 26, 2022, she was physically assaulted by Smith. The following day, the victim changed the locks and Smith removed his personal belongings from the residence. On the same day as the fires, Smith attempted to contact the victim several times in the afternoon, and later that day, the juvenile son of the victim called his mother to advise her that their residence had been shot at, although it was later determined that an unknown object was used to strike the window. The victim returned to her residence at that time.
Through the investigation, it was learned that spare keys to the business were missing. It was also learned that Smith, who is on parole, drove a gold Buick Lacrosse that is registered to his mother. In a review of March 3, 2022 surveillance footage from the business’s Cantrell location, court records said, Smith was seen from 9:21 p.m. until 9:43 p.m. and approximately one minute later, the Little Rock Fire Department received notification of a water flow activation alarm. Firefighters were then dispatched to a fire at the East 21st Street location approximately 19 minutes after Smith departed the Cantrell location.
Smith has a prior conviction from 2016 for aggravated assault on a family member and terroristic threatening after he attacked a victim, threatened to kill her, and drove a car into the residence in an attempt to run her down, court records said. Smith fled to Kentucky, where he led law enforcement on a chase at speeds of 110 miles per hour and ultimately almost struck multiple officers with his vehicle, for which he was convicted of first-degree wanton endangerment. Smith also has prior convictions for aggravated assault and second-degree battery for an incident where multiple officers were injured, battery in the third degree involving domestic violence, and unlawfully possessing a firearm.
During the sentencing, the victim told the Court how hard she worked to build these businesses as a single mother and spoke about the violence inflicted by Smith against her. The victim indicated that she hoped to protect others from Smith by coming forward.
On April 5, 2022, a federal grand jury in Little Rock returned a two-count indictment charging Smith with use of fire/explosive to damage or destroy property with injury to persons. He pleaded guilty to one count on July 25, 2023, and the remaining count was dismissed.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Mazzanti. Smith was represented in court by Assistant Federal Public Defender Molly Sullivan.
In addition to the 240-month prison sentence, Rudofsky ordered Smith to pay $410,254.14 in restitution and a $100 special assessment and to serve three years under federal supervision after he is released from prison.
Two days after his sentencing, Smith filed a notice of appeal of his sentence to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.
“A maximum sentence was sought in this case because both the victim and the public deserve to be safe from this defendant for as long as the law would allow,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross. “Given this defendant’s depraved crimes in the present case and his violent criminal history, we are grateful that the Court agreed with our request for the maximum sentence and sentenced this defendant to 20 years in federal prison.”