Sterling arsonist’s request for reconsideration of 3 life sentences denied

Nov. 15 – MORRISON – A Whiteside County judge on Thursday denied a Rock Falls man’s request to reconsider three life sentences given to him in connection with the June 2020 Sterling fire that killed three people and injured several others.

Steven W. Coleman, 45, was sentenced Oct. 17 to three consecutive life sentences and 105 sentences for setting the fatal fire at the Western Apartments in Sterling that killed 13-year-old Celina Serrano and 8-year-old Shyla Walker of Davenport, Iowa. He was sentenced to one year in prison. and neighbor Carrie A. (Hall) Hose, 49.

His trial on Thursday was one of a series of hearings following his jury trial and subsequent conviction in July; this led to not only three life sentences but also a further 105 years in prison. He was also sentenced to 30 years in prison with mandatory 85% to be served on all three counts of aggravated arson for serious injuries sustained at the scene to two residents and a Dixon firefighter, for a total sentence of 90 years. . Finally, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison on residential arson charges.

(Rock Falls man found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder)

The jury found him guilty of the charges on July 19 after a five-day trial, agreeing with the prosecution that Coleman set the fire in retaliation for a drug deal in which the cocaine he thought he had purchased turned out to be fake. The sentences will be served consecutively and he will not be eligible for parole.

Coleman then filed a motion stating that he had ineffective counsel and that he wanted a new trial. At a hearing on Sept. 18, Coleman told Whiteside County District Court Judge Trish Senneff that public defender Dana McCormick, who represented him in the criminal case, was unable to effectively represent him because his boss, James Fagerman, was acting as attorney. Sterling law firm Mertes & Mertes filed the charges four years ago.

Mertes & Mertes said it was the law firm representing fire victims in a $100 million civil lawsuit in which Coleman was the defendant. Senneff, who gave the decision to the board, said he found no evidence of a conflict of interest.

(Judge rejects Rock Falls man’s claim of ineffective lawyer in Western Apartments murder case)

Coleman appeared in court again on September 26 and this time requested a new trial. Senneff once again ruled against Coleman, saying the evidence presented led the jury to return a guilty verdict.

At that hearing, Senneff said he “forced his brother to give him a ride” and took a gas can with him. He said an accelerant was detected at the scene of the fire, his personal cell phone was found near the scene a short time later, and the next day Coleman called his brother in his vehicle to find the missing cell phone and then made incriminating statements linking him to the fire.

“I don’t see how the jury could have come to any other verdict,” Senneff said.

(Judge denies Sterling arsonist’s request for new trial, says evidence shows his actions killed three people)

He was sentenced on October 17. In his petition for reconsideration of the sentence, which he filed five days later, Coleman argued that the court did not take into account each factor related to mitigation when determining the sentence, and that the court did not give enough weight to the factors related to mitigation. and that the penalties imposed were excessive in the spirit and intent of the law.

(Man sentenced to 3 life terms plus 105 years in prison for setting deadly 2020 Sterling apartment fire in Rock Falls)

The hearing was scheduled for November 18 but was postponed until Thursday due to a conflict in the court calendar. After hearing arguments, Senneff denied the request for reconsideration and left his original sentence intact.