State Attorney Ed Brodsky announced today that Stancel Jeffrey Maywas convicted after a jury trial of Arson in the First Degree (Dwelling).  The crimes were investigated by the Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations (BFAEI).  The four-day trial was held at the Sarasota County Courthouse from June 29-July 2, 2026.  The Honorable Judge Danielle Brewer presided over the trial. A sentencing date is pending.

The charges stemmed from a fire on Manasota Key in September of 2024.  The owner of a two-story residential building reported the fire shortly after 8am when smoke was discovered pouring out of the upper portion of the home.  After first responders with the Englewood and Sarasota County Fire Departments put the fire out and made the scene safe, local officials called detectives with the BFAEI after determining the circumstances warranted further investigation.

The investigation revealed that the fire was not electrical or accidental based on physical evidence at the scene.  Detectives tracked down video surveillance footage of the driveway leading to the property and noticed a man approaching the home and leaving just minutes before the fire was discovered.  The man was dressed in all black and concealing his face.  Witnesses were able to identify the man as the Defendant based on his clothing and his posture/gait.  Investigators also located license plate reader information showing the Defendant’s vehicle was in the area around the time of the fire, and his statements to detectives about his whereabouts during the fire did not check out.  His cell phone was obtained, and data such as texts, calls, and location information was deleted from a time frame covering when the fire occurred.

The lead prosecutor in the case, Assistant State Attorney S. Ethan Dunn, said: “This Defendant believed his crime would go unsolved and took steps to make that happen.  Thanks to the quick response of the firefighters in this case, law enforcement was able to put the pieces together and retrace those steps to hold the Defendant accountable.  Thanks to their efforts, and the courage of the Victims in this case that identified the Defendant to stand up to him, the jury was able to put those pieces together for themselves during their deliberations.  We are thankful for their careful consideration of this case in reaching a just verdict.  The State Attorney’s Office is also grateful for the members of the Englewood Fire Department, Sarasota County Fire Department, members of Florida’s Forensic Services Lab, and the BFAEI detectives on this case; their dedication led to the Defendant being held accountable for his actions and a just outcome.” If you have any questions or would like further information please contact Assistant State Attorney S. Ethan Dunn in the Sarasota County office at 941-861-4400.