Appeals Court Upholds West Virginia Arson Convictions

November 19, 2014

A federal appeals court has upheld the convictions of a West Virginia man who hired his neighbors to burn his duplex to collect insurance money.

Michael L. White of Chapmanville is serving 61/2 years in federal prison after being convicted of arson, conspiracy to commit arson and accessory after the fact.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond upheld the convictions Monday.

According to prosecutors, White conspired with Kimberly Dawn Kinder and her now-deceased husband to set fire to the Boone County duplex. After the October 2009 fire, White collected more than $80,000 in insurance claims and paid the Kinders about $2,000.

Kimberly Kinder pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to three years and one month in prison.