Published: September 16, 2009 08:44 am      

Writing is on the wall

Arson victim builds 50-foot sign

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

“Hey Common Wealth Attorney, I think you should build me a house.”

So proclaims part of an eight-foot tall and more than 50-foot long display Fred Martin Jr. has placed in front of the burnt remains of his home.

The makeshift billboard, made from 13 pieces of plywood sheeting, is Martin’s way of decrying the burglary and burning of his century-old home located on Arkle Road in Gray.

The three men who stole two of his ATVs and a rifle from his house before at least one of them set it ablaze were sentenced to five years each for the crime.

“Justice was NOT served,” claims one of Martin’s panels. “I lost EVERYTHING.”

The board includes the photos and names of the three men sentenced in the crime — Justin Messer, Joshua Lawson and Jamie Carman.

Martin, a Knox County native who now lives in Michigan, has taken trips to the local area to appear whenever any of the three men were in court. This week, he drove down to speak at a parole hearing for Lawson.

“They only got 5 years,” Martin’s sign reads. “I was born in this house. This house was at least 115 yrs old and a landmark. Three burned it down and the Common Wealth Attorney let them get away with it!”

Originally, the three men were indicted on charges of first-degree burglary, two counts of theft by unlawful taking over $300, theft of a firearm and first-degree arson. Lawson and Messer, who pleaded guilty in October to third-degree burglary and theft of a firearm, were sentenced to five years each. Carman also pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary and third-degree arson, but had an additional guilty plea to third-degree arson and first-degree criminal mischief for setting fire to the Safeco Coal building in Knox County in January. Carman was sentenced to nine years for both crimes.

“I’m very unhappy with them boys only getting five years,” Martin said.

Of course, Martin said he understands the men can’t be retried for their crimes. When asked what he hopes to get out of his large sign, Martin says “publicity.”

But that “publicity” may land Martin in more trouble.

“I think he should just let it go,” said Uel Messer, grandfather of Justin Messer and the only member of the men’s families able to be reached by the Times-Tribune Tuesday by phone. He said if Martin continues “holding a grudge” he might face a lawsuit from the three men or their families.

“It don’t look like he ought to be allowed to do them boys that way after the courts done sentenced them,” Uel Messer said.

He said he never talked to his grandson extensively about the case, but said, “he (Justin) did tell me one time that he didn’t have nothing to do with burning the house...”

Martin had no insurance on the home or belongings. The three men were ordered to jointly pay Martin $44,500 in restitution as a condition of their parole but Martin, age 75, doesn’t expect to receive the money. He said he’d rather they serve their complete recommended sentences than be paroled and start to pay back the money.