Parrish Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Arson Charge in Bradenton Motel Fire
A Parrish man has pleaded guilty to a federal arson charge stemming from a 2025 vehicle fire at a Bradenton motel, federal prosecutors announced.
Endarius Devonta Stitten, 26, admitted to violating the federal Anti-Arson Act and now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison, with a maximum penalty of up to 20 years. The case was announced by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
According to court records, the incident occurred on March 20, 2025, when Stitten used a lighter and a t-shirt to ignite a van parked in a motel lot in Bradenton. The vehicle had been rented by a couple visiting from Oregon through Tampa International Airport. The fire caused damage to the van.
Investigators said Stitten later admitted to setting the fire because he believed the van belonged to a female acquaintance who had failed to meet him at a motel room as planned.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative focused on combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime. The initiative coordinates efforts across multiple federal programs, including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations, and Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.
