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Luther Moody Trent previously pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree arson after pouring gas on the side of the Linden Avenue, destroying the property in a blaze on home May 20, 2021, according to previous news reports.
He was released from jail after serving six months due to a plea deal, chopping his 18 counts down to just ten. Even Trent himself said he was shocked at his release.
Earlier this week, Trent was slapped with a federal charge of malicious destruction of property used in and affecting interstate commerce by fire, in connection with the May 2021 fire.
Trent in an interview with Fox News described the arson as "some Romeo and Juliet type thing," noting he poured gasoline on the side of the house and set it on fire.
“The love of my life is in Baltimore. I know where she lives at and I can’t even talk to her," he told the outlet. "Can’t say nothing to her. In my head, it was some Romeo and Juliet type of thing – if I can’t have you, no one can have you, at least in Baltimore."
Trent sent threatening text messages to his ex-girlfriend, who issued a protection of abuse against him, before the fire broke out at the building on the 1900 block of Linden Avenue around 1:30 a.m., May 21, 2021, US District Attorney for Maryland Erek L. Barron said.
The fire moved along the outside of the house and into the back, where it set a raised wooden deck on fire, and then moved inside the building, doing substantial damage to the home and the adjoining property, Barron said alongside several other officials.
The fire was deemed arson and the origin was under the wooden deck in the back of the residence.
Police recovered video surveillance recordings from a variety of sources and vantage points in the area of the fire. In one surveillance video, a figure is seen walking up the street toward the home at approximately 1:30 a.m., just before the fire. Two minutes later, an individual, who appears to be shirtless, is seen running down the street away from the home. Other video surveillance footage shows a black two-door Honda circling the area after the fire.
Trent's ex-girlfriend told a detective that she had a volatile romantic relationship with him, and had even filed an order of protection against him. The detective found a video of a prior incident from March 2021, that showed Trent and the victim.
Upon seeing Trent in the video, the detective realized that he had approached him earlier at the scene of the arson and identified himself as “Trey Johnson.” At the time, Trent was shirtless, wearing glasses and jeans, and inquired about his cousin, whom he claimed resided in the residence, authorities said.
The detective noted that “Trey Johnson” was acting nervous and left the scene shortly thereafter driving a two-door black Honda Accord. The ex confirmed that Trent drives a two-door black Honda and indicated that his cousin had not lived at the residence in several months.
If convicted, Trent faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for malicious destruction of commercial property by fire.
He was being held on related state charges. An initial appearance in U.S. District Court has not yet been scheduled.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore City Fire Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok, who is prosecuting the federal case.
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