Iowa Teen’s Pathetic Defense for Burning Covered Bridge
In mid-April, the historic Cedar Covered Bridge in Madison County was burned by arsonists for the second time in 15 years. The original bridge was one of those featured in the movie 'The Bridges of Madison County' in 1995.
Three teens have been charged with second-degree arson and criminal mischief for destroying the bridge earlier this year. One of those is Alexander Hoff. He returned to the scene of the crime the very day it had been burned and was interviewed on television. The other young person in the video is co-defendant Joel Davis.
I can hardly put into words how angry that makes me. You've seen nothing yet.
According to WHO, Hoff's attorney announced Monday that his client's defense will be centered around "intoxication and diminished capacity." I suppose Hoff's Instagram post, prior to the bridge's burning, was also posted while he was intoxicated. It showed Hoff inside a covered bridge with the caption "The hardest part of life is knowing which bridges to burn and which to cross."
Surveillance video shows Hoff purchasing a gas can prior to the fire. The same gas can that Hoff admitted to purchasing and tossing in the ditch near the bridge. He was 17 when the crime occurred and will be tried as an adult when the trial begins August 29.
I, for one, hope Madison County gets justice because if that Instagram post doesn't blow this punk's defense, I don't know what it would take.