A man from Belleville, Illinois, has admitted to starting a fire inside a gas station bathroom in Lebanon. Carlos A. Rodriguez, 33, appeared in federal court where he pleaded guilty to a charge of arson involving property used in interstate commerce. His sentencing is set for January 7, 2026.
The incident happened on the evening of September 10, 2018, at the CC Food Mart in Lebanon. Rodriguez went into the men’s restroom and set fire to a plastic air freshener on the wall before leaving the store. About seven minutes later, customers and employees noticed smoke and found the fire still burning.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted tests by recreating the bathroom and studying how the fire spread. This helped confirm Rodriguez was responsible and ruled out other people who used the restroom that night. The fire and efforts to put it out caused around $6,000 in damage.
Arson of this type carries a serious penalty, with a minimum prison sentence of five years and up to 20 years possible. Fines can be as high as $250,000, plus supervised release for up to three years.
The ATF led the investigation, working with the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, Lebanon Police Department, and the Lebanon Fire Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke.