Suspect in Sen. Sanders office fire appears in court

Burlington, VT – The man charged with setting fire to Senator Bernie Sanders’ office last week had his first appearance in federal court in Burlington Tuesday.

In the first of two planned appearances this week, Shant Michael Soghomonian appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered a two-day continuance. Soghomonian will remain behind bars until his next appearance Thursday.

Judge Doyle noted that Soghomonian – originally from California – is a flight risk. He said there were no conditions of release that would ensure Soghomonian would continue to appear in court if released.

The continuance will allow the court more time to obtain information from the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation and review materials found in Soghomonian’s possession at the time of his arrest.

Court documents have revealed new information about Soghomonian’s arrest, and his time in Vermont leading up to the fire at Senator Sanders’ office.

Investigators say Soghomonian had been staying in the Burlington area for nearly two months before he set the fire at One Church Street.

Soghomonian was arrested at the Quality Inn in Shelburne on Sunday, April 7, where investigators say he attempted to barricade himself inside his room before surrendering to Williston and Shelburne Police, and the ATF. Reports also showed that he had stayed at the Inn at Burlington in South Burlington for several weeks.

Soghomonian is due back in court Thursday, April 11.

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