Rosa Pleads Guilty to All Charges on Morning of Trial

LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The man who was arrested for burning down a Mount Morris families’ detached garage in 2014 pled guilty on the morning of his long-anticipated trial to multiple charges including arson and burglary.

Brandon Rosa, 26, pled guilty to all of the charges in his indictment, which were felony Arson in the Third Degree, Burglary in the Second Degree, Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, and will serve 5 years in state prison and owe more than $45,000 in restitution.

“This is one of the most horrific property damage scenes I have ever seen,” said Livingston County District Attorney Greg McCaffrey. “Rosa ruined these people’s lives when he destroyed $200,000 worth of their property in that garage, plus destroying everything he could in the house. On top of that, he sent two uniformed police officers into a burning building by screaming ‘my kids are in there.’ Those police officers were doing their duty looking for a baby in a burning structure, they weren’t looking out for their own safety. They’re focused on finding the child, not on whether the roof will collapse.”

Rosa destroyed the interior of the house with a blunt tool, shattering mirrors, and breaking furniture. He tore off the door to the refrigerator and threw it through a front window.

Rosa’s defense attorney, Kevin Van Allen, said that at the end of the day Rosa fessed up to what he had done.

“Mr. Rosa walked into court and took responsibility for his actions,” said Van Allen. “Actions which were the result of drinking to excess. Actions which he and his family are going to pay a heavy price for. I think it’s important to bear in mind that amid all the bravado and chest-pounding, we are dealing with human lives on both sides of the equation. I appreciate that Judge Wiggins kept this in mind as we negotiated this plea over the objection of the District Attorney’s Office.”

Judge Robert Wiggins allowed Rosa to remain at liberty for a few days after the guilty plea to get his affairs in order. Rosa turned himself in on Friday and was remanded to jail without bail.

He will return to Judge Robert Wiggins’ court at a later date for sentencing.