Bountiful man pleads guilty to starting fire that caused $6 million in damage

Fire crews respond Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, to a four-alarm fire at 550 E. 500 South in Salt Lake City.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY A Bountiful man pleaded guilty Monday to setting fire to an unfinished Salt Lake apartment building in February, causing about $6 million in damage.

Dustin Jay Bowman, who stood in a red jumpsuit with his hands shackled at his waist, pleaded guilty to arson as part of a resolution with prosecutors.

Federal prosecutor Drew Yeates will recommend a prison sentence of 48 months and a fine of just under $3 million when Bowman, 34, is sentenced on March 4.

Days after the Feb. 9 blaze, Bowman admitted during an interview with investigators that he started a fire in the apartment building, where he was involved in construction as an electrician. That interview was later challenged by Bowman's attorney, Jamie Zenger, because police reportedly did not inform Bowman of his Miranda rights.

Zenger made a motion to suppress Bowman's confession, though prosecutors say Bowman offered to help investigators and told them during the interview that he knew he was not obligated to speak to them.

U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart granted the motion to suppress Bowman's statements during that interview, but denied a motion to suppress a later confession at the Salt Lake County Jail.

"Once that got resolved, we decided it was in his best interest to enter the (guilty) plea," Zenger said.

The 64,000-square-foot building near 540 E. 500 South was destroyed in a four-alarm fire. Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage from several buildings nearby showing a man entering and exiting the apartment building around 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 9. Fifteen minutes later, smoke began rising from the building.

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Bountiful man pleads guilty to starting fire that caused $6 million in damage