Businessman Mark C. Anderson admitted in Sacramento federal court today setting a fire that burned 6 million bottles of some of California's best wines.
Anderson pleaded guilty to arson resulting in injury to two firefighters, interstate transportation of stolen property, mail fraud, use of an alias as part of a mail fraud scheme, and income tax evasion.
The 61-year-old Anderson, who was scheduled to go on trial Tuesday, changed his mind in return for an assurance by Assistant U. S. Attorney R. Steven Lapham that he will recommend a prison term of 15 years and 8 months - the bottom of the advisory guidelines range. The arson count alone carries a statutory maximum 40 years.
Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 26.
He operated a wine storage business, first in Sausalito and then in Vallejo. He torched a massive above-ground bunker on the decommissioned Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, where the products of more than 100 Napa Valley wineries were stored. He had rented space there until his eviction some months before the October 2005 fire.
There has been speculation that Anderson burned the bunker to cover his tracks on sales of clients' wine without their permission. Charges are pending against him in Marin Superior Court in connection with that matter.
Lapham said Anderson's motive for the arson was not clear to him and defense attorney Mark Reichel would not discuss it.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.