A Cumberland County man is facing federal charges after alleging setting fire to Burkesville City Hall to destroy blood-alcohol evidence following the suspect’s arrest for DUI.
Nathan Riddle, 47, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Bowling Green for arson of a building receiving federal funds and arson of a building affecting interstate commerce, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
The indictment, prosecutors said, states that on October 25, 2020, “Riddle, maliciously damaged by means of fire, the Burkesville City Hall, which was owned by the city of Burkesville.”
“The city of Burkesville received federal funding and the building was involved in business which affected interstate commerce,” prosecutors said.
The building also contained the Burkesville Police Department evidence room. Riddle, lakercountry.com reports, set the fire to destroy evidence from a DUI arrest fewer than two weeks before the suspect set city hall on fire.
The DUI charge was later dismissed due to the evidence being destroyed in the fire.
Riddle was previously convicted in Cumberland County of second-degree burglary and second-degree persistent felony offender, according to the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
He faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the ATF and Kentucky State Police.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
