A Silver Spring man who threw two Molotov cocktails at his ex-girlfriend’s apartment nearly two years ago was sentenced on Monday to 35 years in federal prison, prosecutors announced.
Darius Eric Wilder, 41, was convicted by a federal jury in August 2018 for arson and carrying and possessing a destructive device during a crime of violence.
“Darius Wilder is a violent criminal who used Molotov cocktails to commit arson in an attempt to seriously injure his ex-girlfriend, her children, and endanger the surrounding community,” Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada said in a statement. “We are glad to see that justice has been served.”
County firefighters extinguished the fire started by Wilder at a Gaithersburg apartment in April 2017, and investigators located two bombs known as Molotov cocktails, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release.
The woman living there with her three children had tried to end a relationship with Wilder, but he continued to contact her. In a series of text messages, he threatened to light himself on fire, according to prosecutors. He texted and called the woman repeatedly on the day of the incident.
After he was tracked down and arrested, police found three lighters and a gasoline can in his vehicle.
“We are all safer with Darius Wilder removed from the community for 35 years in federal prison, where there is no parole – ever,” U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur said in a statement.
An attorney for Wilder did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
