Steven Lawrence Dixon was recently found guilty of fourth-degree arson and sentenced to 12-34 months in prison. Dixon appeared as the defendant in a recent jury trial in which he was tried for felony arson in the fourth degree and child neglect or endangerment, at which he was found not guilty of the child neglect or endangerment charge.
Dixon was represented by Public Defender Matthew Stermitz, with the state represented by Deputy District Attorney Max Stovall.
The incident in question occurred on Dec. 13, 2017. According to Stovall, Dixon used a propane torch to set fire to a mirror hanging on a wall on the inside of his family’s home, after an argument with his girlfriend. After the fire was put out inside the house, Stovall said that Dixon’s girlfriend took their 9-year old son and drove away. Dixon reportedly threw a beer bottle at the car as they were driving away after trying to run after the car.
Stovall presented to the jury that Dixon was guilty of fourth-degree arson after intentionally setting the mirror on fire, presenting to the jury that he had intentions of setting the entire house on fire. Dixon’s daughter and mother were reportedly there to extinguish the fire inside the house.
Stovall referred to several reported events which constituted a child neglect or endangerment charge. He said that Dixon’s nine-year-old son could have been injured by the beer bottle being thrown at the car if it had broken through a window. He also reported that the children inside the home at the time could have been burned or had smoke inhalation from the arson incident.
Stoval said witnesses reported that the nine-year-old fled the house screaming and scared after the incident and immediately went to the car, which he said could constitute mental injury to the child.
“We know that Dixon’s son didn’t go to the hospital, but we do know he was placed in that situation as a result of abuse or neglect,” said Stovall, asking for a guilty verdict from the jury on both counts.
Stermitz claims this was one of the many cases in which during a custody dispute, one of the parties resorts to the criminal justice system and law enforcement in order to disembody or skewer their spouse. He described it as resorting to the criminal justice system not as a shield, but as a sword.
“It’s unfortunate in some ways that we’re here a year later because what this family simply needed and their children was counseling,” said Stermitz.
Dixon was found by a jury to be guilty of felony arson in the fourth degree, and not guilty of felony child abuse, neglect or endangerment.
At a later sentencing hearing, Stermitz asked the court to allow Dixon probation for the felony arson charge, with stipulations that he abstains from drinking alcohol.
“Obviously Mr. Dixon shouldn’t be drinking alcohol, it results in negative consequences,” said Stermitz. “Apparently, he’s (Dixon) in a bit of denial about the influence of alcohol on his life.”
The department of parole and probation recommended a denial of probation for Dixon. Stovall asked the court to sentence Dixon to prison on behalf of the state.
“He deserves the full four years in prison for this crime against his girlfriend and what he did to her property,” said Stovall.
In his allocution statement, Dixon said he didn’t have a problem with alcohol and asked the court for a chance at probation rather than prison.
“I don’t see why I would have any trouble with probation, there’s no reason for me to go to prison over this,” said Dixon. “I don’t have any problem not drinking, we can put me on probation and see real quick if I have a problem or not.”
Sixth Judicial Court Judge Michael Montero sentenced Dixon to 12-34 months in prison, with credit for time served of 22 days for the fourth-degree category D felony arson charge. He was immediately remanded to the custody of the sheriff’s office to carry out the prison sentence.
Dixon was also ordered to pay a $3 DNA fee, $25 administrative assessment fee and $1,500 public defender fee.
