DO-IT-YOURSELF ARSON: Mark Holley charged with torching his family’s home
LA PLATA, MD. – Deputy State Fire Marshals charged a LaPlata man after determining he was responsible for intentionally setting fire to his family’s home.
The Maryland Fire Marshal reports that on March 15, 2020, at approximately 4:30 p.m., multiple Charles County fire departments responded to 7716 Oliver Shop Road for a reported dwelling fire. Upon firefighter’s arrival, they discovered a fire within the home with the sole occupant outside the single-family dwelling. The occupant, later identified as Mark Anthony Holley, 36, (DOB 06/04/1983) attempted to re-enter the house multiple times. Deputies with Charles County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene and detained Holley, allowing firefighters to extinguish the blaze.
Deputy State Fire Marshals were requested to conduct an investigation where it was determined that Holley ignited a room within the interior of the house where he lived with his family. Holley was the only occupant home at the time and was able to exit the residence uninjured prior to fire department arrival.
Holley was arrested on scene and with the assistance of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and was transported to the Charles County Jail, where he was charged with Arson First Degree.
Holley is currently being held without bond. If found guilty, Holley faces a maximum penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment.
While Fire Marshals say that Holley lived at the property he set afire, according to Maryland land records, the property is owned by Frances C. Craven Trustee, of Marbury, Md., and is non-owner occupied, meaning the house, a modest size rambler located on 15 acres, is rented by Holley and his family.
Holley was arrested on Aug. 7, 2019, by Charles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy M. Bourgeois and charged with telephone misuse. In a plea deal with a public defender and the Charles County States Attorney, Holley’s charge was put on the Stet Docket.
Aug. 7, 2018, was a red-letter day for Holley when he was busted for DWI by Maryland State Trooper Jonathan Powis as he conducted a booze cruise on Md. Rt. 5 north of Carpenter Drive in St. Mary’s County. With noted DWI attorney Hammad Matin of LaPlata as his mouthpiece, Holley entered into a plea deal with St. Mary’s States Attorney Richard Fritz and pleaded guilty to DWI on Jan. 4, 2019. THE DEAL: Holley was sentenced to one year in jail with all but ten days in jail suspended. Various other charges were dropped as part of the deal such as reckless driving and driving while suspended.
Holley was charged in Prince Georges County by a Prince George’s Police Officer with DWI-Drugs on May 13, 2014, at 10:45 am on Cedarville Road when his address was still at 7716 Oliver Shop Road in LaPlata, the charges were dropped by Prince Georges States Attorney Angela Alsobrooks on Jan. 28, 2015.
Maryland State Trooper Thompson of the Leonardtown Barrack arrested Mark Anthony Holley on July 9, 2012, and charged him with DWI as he operated a 2005 Chevy on Army Navy Drive at Aviation Yacht Club Road in St. Mary’s County, Md. In a plea deal with his attorney, Robert Castro and Fritz on Nov. 21, 2012, Holley pleaded guilty.
Holley was charged with malicious property destruction by Charles County Sheriff’s Dept. Cpl. Pratta in 2003 and the charge was put on the Stet Docket by the States Attorney.
