Man Admits To Setting Mill Building On Fire In Woonsocket

WOONSOCKET, RI — A 23-year-old year-old man admitted in federal court Monday to setting three fires in a mill-type building in Woonsocket in April 2019.

Jacob Lahousse pleaded guilty to arson. He admitted to setting the fires after climbing a ladder and entering the building from the back, which houses at least two businesses.

According to courts documents, video surveillance showed Lahousse walking around the inside of the building collecting various items and placing them into bags. About two hours later, Lahousse destroying several security cameras. Lahousse then set three fires in the building: one inside a desktop computer on the basement level, one to a piece of fabric on the basement level, and one on a love seat in a first-floor office.

Woonsocket firefighters discovered smoke in the building and water flowing from sprinkler heads. They extinguished the small fire inside the desktop computer and smoldering papers on a desk in a first-floor office. Investigators also found evidence of forced entry, smashed computers, ransacked offices and an attempted forced entry into a safe.

In the office, a handwritten note was posted on the wall that read, "[i]n case you decide 2 call the feds I got pics of the fam." On the desk next to the note was an empty picture frame that previously held a family photo.

Several people identified Lahousse from the security footage, and he was arrested on July 14, 2019 in Blackstone, Massachusetts.

Lahousse is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12. Arson carries a prison sentence of five to 20 years in prison.