Cedar Rapids man convicted of arson

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Linn County jury deliberated only about an hour Thursday before finding a Cedar Rapids man guilty of torching his apartment in April 2013.

Christopher Perry, 29, was found guilty of first-degree arson and first-degree criminal mischief. He faces up to 25 years in prison.

During the four-day trial, witnesses testified they saw Perry arguing with his girlfriend and heard him say he was going to burn her clothes and other belongings in the apartment. In addition, authorities said Perry told a paramedic at the scene that he set the fire in his apartment at 324 Jacolyn Dr. SW, Apt. 5, on April 28, 2013.

The fire was started on his bed and burned the bedroom, according to testimony. Other people were in the building at the time, but nobody was injured.

Before the trial, Wallace Taylor, Perry's lawyer, asked the court to exclude testimony at trial from the fire investigator that he determined the fire was an arson and where in the apartment it started. Taylor argued there was a recent Iowa Supreme Court case that wouldn't allow an expert witness, such as a fire investigator, to base his opinion on witness statements.

Al Brockhohn, retired Cedar Rapids fire investigator, testified at the hearing before the trial that his opinion wasn't based upon what he learned from witnesses. He based it on evidence at the scene. He said he determined it was an arson and it started with clothing on the bed.

Judge Sean McPartland of the 6th Judicial District ruled that Brockhohn could render his opinion determining it was an arson and where it started.