Former Rochester man charged with setting fire that resulted in death

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a one count indictment charging Timothy Kuhn, 66, of Pensacola, FL, with arson of property used in interstate commerce resulting in death, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

According to the indictment, on February 28, 2004, Kuhn maliciously destroyed a rental property at 17 Yates Street in Rochester by setting the property on fire. The fire resulted in the death of an individual identified as S.S.

Kuhn was arraigned this afternoon in Federal Court in the Northern District of Florida and was ordered detained. He will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, New York Field Division.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.