Crime
Arizona truck driver who set 2007 strip club fire faces sentencing today
By: Scott McCabe
Examiner Staff Writer
January 27, 2009
An Arizona truck driver who set fire to a Georgetown strip club and nearly killed its bouncer faces more than four decades in prison at his sentencing today, according to court filings.
Federal prosecutors are asking D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert I. Richter to sentence Vasile Graure to 43 years in prison for the 10 counts of assault with intent to kill and arson in the 2007 fire. Prosecutors said Graure turned down a plea offer of between 15 to 25 years before the six-day jury trial in November.
Fourteen months after the incident, the bouncer, Vladimir Djordjevic, who was 26 at the time, continues to fight for his life, prosecutors said. Djordjevic remains in hospital for the second- and third-degree burns to more than 80 percent of his body. He has undergone 50 major surgical operations and has suffered a permanent loss of hearing, prosecutors said.
On Nov. 3, 2007, Graure, 38, had spent a large amount of money at the Good Guys Gentleman’s Club, at 2311 Wisconsin Ave. NW, and started to wave cash at the dancers and throw cash around, spilling it on the stage and tables, according to trial testimony.
Graure, a Romanian citizen who had been living in Phoenix, then pulled out his cell phone and snapped a picture of a dancer’s behind. Club rules prohibit patrons from taking pictures of the strippers. As Graure was escorted from the club, he threw his glass on the floor and directed a profane tirade at one of the female managers.
Prosecutors said Graure walked the next block to a Chevron gas station and bought a lighter, red gasoline container, and two gallons of gas. The gas station attendant described Graure as talkative, almost jovial.
Twenty minutes after Graure was kicked out of the club, he walked back in and began pouring and splashing gasoline all over the floor near the entrance.
When Djordjevic tried to stop him, Graure poured gasoline on the bouncer and then ignited it. Djordjevic burst into flames and the dozens of customers and employees started to scatter. People couldn’t escape through the front entrance because the flames extended from wall-to-wall and from floor-to-ceiling, according to eyewitnesses.
Djordjevic, consumed in flames, ran out the back and was doused with water. Still smoldering, Djordjevic identified his attacker before he was rushed to the hospital, prosecutors said.
Graure fled the scene and fled to a Day’s Inn hotel in Alexandria, where he tried to treat his own serious burn injuries.
Federal prosecutors are asking D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert I. Richter to sentence Vasile Graure to 43 years in prison for the 10 counts of assault with intent to kill and arson in the 2007 fire. Prosecutors said Graure turned down a plea offer of between 15 to 25 years before the six-day jury trial in November.
Fourteen months after the incident, the bouncer, Vladimir Djordjevic, who was 26 at the time, continues to fight for his life, prosecutors said. Djordjevic remains in hospital for the second- and third-degree burns to more than 80 percent of his body. He has undergone 50 major surgical operations and has suffered a permanent loss of hearing, prosecutors said.
On Nov. 3, 2007, Graure, 38, had spent a large amount of money at the Good Guys Gentleman’s Club, at 2311 Wisconsin Ave. NW, and started to wave cash at the dancers and throw cash around, spilling it on the stage and tables, according to trial testimony.
Graure, a Romanian citizen who had been living in Phoenix, then pulled out his cell phone and snapped a picture of a dancer’s behind. Club rules prohibit patrons from taking pictures of the strippers. As Graure was escorted from the club, he threw his glass on the floor and directed a profane tirade at one of the female managers.
Prosecutors said Graure walked the next block to a Chevron gas station and bought a lighter, red gasoline container, and two gallons of gas. The gas station attendant described Graure as talkative, almost jovial.
Twenty minutes after Graure was kicked out of the club, he walked back in and began pouring and splashing gasoline all over the floor near the entrance.
When Djordjevic tried to stop him, Graure poured gasoline on the bouncer and then ignited it. Djordjevic burst into flames and the dozens of customers and employees started to scatter. People couldn’t escape through the front entrance because the flames extended from wall-to-wall and from floor-to-ceiling, according to eyewitnesses.
Djordjevic, consumed in flames, ran out the back and was doused with water. Still smoldering, Djordjevic identified his attacker before he was rushed to the hospital, prosecutors said.
Graure fled the scene and fled to a Day’s Inn hotel in Alexandria, where he tried to treat his own serious burn injuries.
