State v. Gary Gaudreau

OPINION

Justice FLAHERTY,

for the Court.

The defendant, Gary Gaudreau, appeals from a judgment of conviction entered after a jury found him guilty of first-degree arson in violation of G.L.1956 § 11-4-2. The trial justice sentenced the defendant to twenty-five years — with nine years to serve and sixteen years suspended, with probation — for setting fire to his place of business, Physique Gym, during a severe snowstorm in the middle of the night on March 2, 2009. This case came before the Supreme Court for argument on March 1, 2016. The defendant raises two issues on appeal: (1) he challenges…