Suspect sentenced in 2022 Sterling Fire

In Loudoun County Circuit Court on Monday July 8, Julian Karapetkov was sentenced for his involvement in the September 2022 arson of a home on Wittingham Circle in Sterling.

Just after 4 a.m. on September 4, 2022, fire and rescue units from Loudoun and Fairfax Counties responded to find two vehicles on fire in the driveway of a Wittingham Circle home with fire showing
from the front of the residence.

Firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the fire and search for additional hazards. Two occupants had evacuated upon hearing loud explosions from the vehicle fire and were located safely outside. There were no injuries to first responders. Damages to the vehicles and home were estimated at $200,000. While performing the initial fire origin and cause investigation, evidence was found by the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office indicating an accelerant had been used to intentionally set two vehicles and the house on fire.

The LCFR-FMO performed a comprehensive investigation utilizing accelerant canine resources, victim interviews and forensic analysis to obtain arrest warrants and search warrants that were served on Karapetkov.

Karapetkov was sentenced to life in prison for burning an occupied dwelling, with all but 10 years of this sentence suspended. Additional restrictions have been put in place to prevent Karapetkov from ever contacting the victim(s) again, or he will be ordered to serve the balance of the life sentence. He was additionally sentenced to 10 years for burning personal property greater than $1000.