Man Sentenced for Virginia Arson to Impress Bikers Club

A Florida man convicted of torching a restaurant in Virginia to impress the Pagan Motorcycle Club will spend five years in a federal prison.

William Wardell Welebir of Port Ritchie, Fla., was convicted in February of one arson count stemming from the 2003 fire at Bad Water Bill’s Barbeque in Strasburg.

Welebir was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Harrisonburg.

Prosecutors say members of the local Pagan club were upset because the restaurant had hosted a bike show sponsored by another club that had ties to the Hells Angels. The 57-year Welebir torched the restaurant to impress the local Pagan club.

Welebir isn’t a member of the Pagan club or any other motorcycle group.