Florida man gets 18 years for throwing Molotov cocktail at Spokane home

A man has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for throwing a Molotov cocktail in 2016 at the Spokane home of his former girlfriend.

Cameron C. Butler, 38, formerly of Florida, appeared this week before U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Rice. Butler pleaded guilty last November to possession of an unregistered destructive device, interstate stalking and possession of child pornography.

As a result, Rice sentenced Butler to 18 years in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release. Butler must also register as a sex offender for life.

“Butler is a dangerous and violent criminal. The crimes he committed could have resulted in tragic deaths and injuries,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Harrington said in a news release. “The court’s sentence will protect the community, punish Butler, and deter others who might consider committing similar crimes in our community.”

The case began on the morning of July 21, 2016, when by his own admission Butler threw multiple Molotov cocktails, which were glass beer bottles filled with gasoline, at the home of his former girlfriend. Four other people were living in the home at the time.

One Molotov cocktail broke a window at the home on the 2200 block of East First Avenue in Spokane and started a small fire in the residence. Spokane Police officers quickly arrived and extinguished it.

A Spokane Fire Department arson investigator recovered burned, broken and unbroken Molotov cocktails at the scene. Investigators determined that Butler sent threatening messages to at least one of the residents the day before, and identified him as a suspect. One resident told investigators that the incident and fire caused her to fear for her life and the lives of other occupants, according to the news release.

Later on July 21, 2016, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives special agents determined Butler had outstanding arrest warrants from Broward County, Florida. The U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force learned Butler was in Moses Lake and arrested him there.

Upon arrest, agents seized Butler’s phone, which was found to contain several images of child pornography.

Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer praised the federal agents in a news release for assisting in the investigation and prosecution of Butler.

“A case with this high level of legal complexity and with so many jurisdictional boundaries clearly demonstrates the importance of the collaboration between the Spokane Fire Department and our federal partners,” Schaeffer said in the release. “I firmly believe that all law and fire agencies should continue to collaborate and share expertise in order to have similar results as Mr. Butler’s conviction.”