Rock Hill court hearing for one of three brothers accused of arson in 2024 fire at their business

Is that Sunday night? Yes. Who, did they leave together, or did one of them leave and two of them remain, or two of them, how did they exit the building that night? They all left approximately at the same time together. At the time they left the business, did the cameras, was there some way that somebody detected smoke in the building when they left the building that night? Yes, your honor. The camera showed smoke actively spreading throughout the structure. It shows that all three of them left the building, including this young man at the same time. Yes, your honor. The brothers, they're the ones that made the accounts, they're the ones that started the business. At least with my client, we would ask that you please find the probable cause in regards to arson. It would send, we know the solicitor can re-indict it. I know that you have the capacity to do that, because I've seen you do it on tough cases before. It would send a message for the county to take a really strong look at this, before we send three young business owners with no record whatsoever through a very difficult process. Thank you, your honor. Your honor, since this is a probable cause hearing, I'll just go ahead and list out the probable cause that exists for this charge, arson second degree. There were two experts, both of whom determined that this fire was not electrical and was an intentional arson. There's a video camera that shows all three defendants, including this defendant, walking around the business while smoke is actively billowing from the business. There is money that was taken out of a safe that night, which is inconsistent with what they usually do with their money, including a laptop and a money counter. This defendant was the one who walked out of the money in a backpack. There's also inconsistent statements about how long they were gone between the time the fire started and when they came back, evidence about commingling personal and business expenses and business accounts. If you put all that together, your honor, I think probable cause exists. The standard has been met. There's sufficient probable cause for this charge, arson in the second degree. A business structure was burned down. There's evidence that the defendant was involved, given all the items that I just listed off as evidence for this charge.