Jury acquits Armstrong County man in 2005 arson, homicide case
Frederick Anthony Robinson walked out the front doors of the Armstrong County Jail on Friday evening as a free man for the first time since Sept. 9, 2005.
At 7:40 p.m., Robinson, 54, of Apollo, entered the jail lobby to applause and hugs from family members. An hour-and-a-half earlier, a jury acquitted Robinson of arson and four counts of homicide.
Prosecutors had alleged that Robinson set a fatal porch fire at 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2005, at a duplex on Clifford Avenue in Apollo. Testimony in the trial spanned seven days and the jury of seven men and five women deliberated for about eight-and-a-half hours Friday.
The fire claimed the lives of Crystal Johnson, 40, and her children Rebecca Jane White, 11, Jacob Joseph Patrono, 5, and Cynthia Dawn Johnson, 2. Two people living on the other side of the duplex escaped.
"I feel sorry for Crystal's family," Robinson said after being released yesterday evening. "I hope they'll be all right."
"Me and Crystal was really good friends," he said, adding that they shared a birthday and he wished he could have attended Johnson's funeral.
Robinson was not able to attend the service because he spent three days in the ACMH Hospital psychiatric ward following the fire and was discharged on Sept. 9, 2005, to state police troopers who promised him a ride home, according to testimony.
Troopers had arranged an informational interview with Robinson to find out more about the fire, according to testimony. During the interview, Robinson implicated himself in the fire and jurors listened to his recorded statement during the trial.
Jurors decided that the fire was the result of arson, which was their first task. State police fire marshals testified during the trial that the fire was intentionally set on Johnson's side of the porch.
Next, the jury had to consider whether Robinson's statement to police and waiver of his rights were voluntarily and knowingly given. The jurors apparently agreed with a psychiatrist who testified for the defense that Robinson would have been "suggestible" and was not in the proper mental state to be questioned by police.
According to three psychiatrists who testified this week, Robinson has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. The doctors described the mental illness as a combination between schizophrenia and depression. Robinson told doctors that he has heard voices and had suicidal thoughts.
The doctors also testified that Robinson has a low intelligence level and is unable to read or write beyond simple words.
Members of Johnson's family and the father of one of her children had been in attendance throughout the entire proceeding.
Assistant district attorney Chase McClister said he was "very surprised and disappointed."
"We always accept a verdict. Unfortunately, they all agree that this was an arson, but they weren't willing to convict him," he said.
Defense co-counsel Chuck Pascal hugged Robinson when the verdict was read.
"On Sept. 9, 2005, Fred's brothers went to the police station to pick him up -- now they can," he said.
Two of Robinson's brothers testified this week that they attempted to pick him up at 1 p.m. from the East Franklin state police station, but they were told by troopers that he was helping with the investigation and was not under arrest. Robinson was read his rights at 1:35 p.m. and gave the recorded statement, according to trooper testimony.
"The wheels of justice do turn when the jury is there to hear the evidence," defense co-counsel Debra Yost said. "Fred is now a free man."
A few of Robinson's 15 brothers and sisters went to the jail after the verdict to pick him up. Members of the family had been present in court throughout the trial and they prayed together while awaiting a verdict yesterday.
Sister Janice Mains said Robinson has said in a letter to another sibling that he wanted to touch the grass, smell flowers and drink a Mountain Dew. Robinson pulled a few blades of grass from the ground and tossed them in the air yesterday while leaving the jail.
Brother Duane Robinson said he and his wife Lisa Robinson have been traveling between their home in Wisconsin and Kittanning to visit Frederick Robinson in jail.
"I'm thankful to God that Freddie can go free," Duane Robinson said. "That was our prayer that justice will be served."
Antonio Robinson said he was overwhelmed while waiting in the jail lobby for his brother.
"Crystal is my friend and I pray that her family finds peace and the answer that they are looking for," he said. "I just hope they get their answers."
Antonio Robinson said he called his mother, Daisy, after the verdict was read.
"I said, 'Mom, he's coming home,' " Antonio Robinson said. "She started to cry and said, 'I knew it, I knew he didn't do it, my prayers are answered.' "
