Virginia, Bar-B-Q arsonist must pay $25,600

OFF THE WIRE
Source: nvdaily.com
By Sally Voth-svoth@nvdaily.com

The man convicted of burning down Bad Water Bill's Bar-B-Q Barn in Strasburg seven years ago has been ordered to pay the restaurant's owner $25,600.

William Wardell "Cozmo" Welebir, 57, a one-time Front Royal resident, appeared before U.S. District Judge Samuel G. Wilson in Roanoke on Monday, according to online court records.

He was convicted in February of the Oct. 23, 2003, arson, but denied the crime.
In May, Welebir was sentenced to five years in prison.

Bad Water Bill's owner Mary Fisher testified at Welebir's sentencing hearing in May that she lost more than $100,000 in the fire, although she did not own the building.
Wilson didn't accept that claim.

Instead, Welebir is to pay Fisher $25,600 in $50 monthly payments, or half of the income he makes while he is in prison, according to court documents.

After he is released, he is to pay $200 a month.

At trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Mott told jurors that Welebir was trying to fit into the Pagans Motorcycle Club, and set the fire at Bad Water Bill's.

Mott said the fire was set because a support club of the Hell's Angels, the Titans, was having a show there later that day. The Pagans and the Hell's Angels are rivals.

When Welebir failed to get the reaction he wanted from the Pagans, he began informing on the bikers to the police, Mott said.

Welebir claims he did not set the fire, but instead gave the club's late president a ride to the restaurant.

He blamed the arson on several other Pagan bikers, some of whom testified during his trial.