Man gets jail time for failing to pay

By Amanda Stewart

Published: June 23, 2008

A homeless man convicted of burning down another homeless man's camp was sentenced in Prince William General District Court on Monday to three months in jail for failing to pay restitution.

Virgil Loren Snyder, 36, was convicted of destruction of property for burning the camp of another homeless man known only as J.D. in July. He was ordered to pay more than $1,400 in restitution.

J.D. lived with his dog, Bob, at the camp behind the Target store on Prince William Parkway.

He lost all of his personal belongings in the fire and his dog Bob was missing for several days before he was found at a local veterinarian's office.

Several people who did not wish to be identified but were familiar with the situation at the time, said Snyder might have been upset because he thought J.D. had been involved with his former girlfriend.

In September, Snyder was convicted of destruction of property for the fire and was sentenced to 12 months in jail, with 10 months suspended. The charge was reduced from arson.

Snyder was also ordered to pay $1,440 in restitution.

But he never paid and missed several court dates related to the case, according to court records.

Most recently, an arrest warrant was issued for Snyder on March 30, when he failed to appear in court. He was arrested on May 30, according to court records.

In court Monday, defense attorney William Pickett said that placing Snyder on probation again would be "setting him up for failure."

Because Snyder is homeless and has not had a steady source of income, paying the restitution is "just not a realistic goal," Pickett said.

But Snyder said that he has a job lined up and will be able to begin paying the restitution once he is released from jail.

"I feel I can do it," Snyder said.

Prince William General District Court Judge Craig D. Johnston sentenced Snyder to serve three months of his previously suspended sentence. He will get credit for the time he has served since his May 30 arrest. Johnston also re-suspended seven months of the sentence.

Snyder has 30 days to begin paying the restitution, Johnston said.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.