Melquan Barnett Wiki – Melquan Barnett biography

A man Melquan Barnett accused of setting fire to a northwestern Pennsylvania coffee shop during the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of malicious destruction of property by fire.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A man accused of burning down a coffee shop in northwestern Pennsylvania during the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd has pleaded guilty to one federal charge of malicious destruction of property by arson.

Melquan Barnett, 30, pleaded guilty Wednesday as part of a deal with prosecutors that requires them to recommend no more than five years in federal prison when he is sentenced May 2, the Erie Times-News reported.

Melquan Barnett Age

The age of Melquan Barnett is 30 years.

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Melquan Barnett accused of burning down a coffee shop in northwestern Pennsylvania

The FBI accused Barnett of setting fire to “a flammable liquid” thrown on a counter at Ember + Forge in Erie shortly after the May 2020 protests were followed by riots. The shop window was already broken. The apartments above the store were occupied at the time, but no one was injured.

Assistant US Attorney Christian Trabold said in court Wednesday that city and federal investigators identified Barnett through surveillance video and videos posted on social media.

Defense attorney Charles Sunwabe, who declined to comment after the hearing, unsuccessfully challenged the filing of federal charges in the case. Barnett, who is black, argued that his race unfairly contributed to that decision and also said that he engaged in free speech during civil unrest.

A judge threw out all of Barnett’s claims in November 2021, saying there was no evidence of bias in the decision to prosecute him in federal court and that acts of violence have no constitutional protection. FBI officials said the federal arson charge was warranted because the company is engaged in interstate commerce.Read More….