Md. Jurors Deadlocked in Arson Case

Jurors in Greenbvely, Maryland deliberating the federal arson case of two men accused of setting fires to a Charles County housing development said Monday that they are deadlocked on both defendants.

After deliberating over two days beginning last Friday, jurors sent out a note Monday afternoon telling U.S. District Court Judge Roger Titus that they could not reach a verdict. Titus sent jurors home but told them to return Tuesday to continue deliberations.

Attorneys for Michael Everhart, 21, and Roy McCann, 23 asked Titus to declare the case a mistrial, but the judge said jurors had not deliberated long enough for him to make that ruling.

McCann and Everhart are among five men accused of setting fire to or trying to torch dozens of homes at Hunters Brooke in Indian Head in December 2004. Two others pleaded guilty in the case while the ringleader, Patrick Walsh, was convicted last year.

The group is accused of setting two dozen houses under construction on fire and trying to torch an additional 11 homes. The Dec. 6, 2004 fires caused $3.2 million worth of damage.