Stockton property owner, two others indicted by grand jury for arson

Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that the owner of a business property in Stockton, Mo., along with a Stockton woman and her son, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for an arson fire at the building.

Dan Thornton, 38, of El Dorado Springs, Mo., Dina Larson, 39, of Stockton, and her son, Jacob Smith, 18, address unknown, were charged in an indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on April 1, 2009. The indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of all three defendants.

The federal indictment alleges that Thornton, Larson and Smith, aiding and abetting one another, destroyed the building at 600 West St., in Stockton, by means of fire and explosive materials. Thornton is the owner of the property, which houses the Cigarette Shack, Pappi's Pizza and Movieland as well as a vacant business.

Whitworth cautioned that the charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cedar County, Mo., Sheriff's Department and the Missouri Division of Fire Safety.