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Man sentenced to decades in prison for intentionally setting Virginia home on fire

Has has also been barred from ever reaching out to the victims again.

STERLING, Va. — A man was sentenced to prison on Monday for deliberately setting fire to a house and multiple cars in Sterling in 2022.

Julian Karapetkov was sentenced to life in prison, with all but 10 years suspended. He has been instructed not to contact the victims again, or else he will be required to serve the rest of his life sentence. Karapetkov was also sentenced to 10 years for burning personal property with a value greater than $1,000. 

Just after 4 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2022, fire and rescue crews from Loudoun and Fairfax Counties responded to a home on Wittingham Circle that was on fire. In the driveway, crews also found two cars on fire.

Firefighters worked to put out the flames after arriving. Two people who were inside the home when the fire started got out safety after heading loud explosions. No one was injured. 

The cost of damages to the home and cars was estimated to be around $200,000.

While investigating, detectives discovered that an accelerant had been used to intentionally set the fire. Karapetkov was identified as the suspect and arrest warrants were issued. 

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