Jerrel Bailey was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to burglary and arson in connection with fires at two businesses in Greenwood Village.
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — A man was sentenced after pleading guilty to burglary and arson on Monday.
Jerrel Bailey pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and one count of arson, both felonies, according to court documents. Other charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a spokesperson for the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said.
In January 2024, South Metro Fire Rescue responded to a fire in The Shops at Greenwood Village retail center. The business was identified as the Fuji Hibachi and Sushi restaurant. Firefighters went inside and were able to control the fire in about 20 to 30 minutes, South Metro Fire Rescue said at the time.
A restaurant next to Fuji Hibachi was damaged by smoke and water that flooded inside from the sprinklers next door, according to an arrest affidavit.
A second fire was reported at the Sportsbook Bar and Grill, which is located in the same plaza. According to the arrest affidavit, a suspect, later identified as Bailey, used a rock to break glass doors to both businesses and made entry. The fire was brought under control, and there were no reports of injuries, according to SMFR.
Photos from the arrest affidavit show Bailey “actively” setting fire in the office area of Sportsbook. A still frame taken from video shows Bailey lighting several paper plates on fire and then using them to set fires in several places.
Bailey was arrested that same night as Arapahoe County deputies responded to another burglary at the Rodizio Grill on South Clinton Street, which is located about a mile away in unincorporated Arapahoe County, the arrest affidavit said.
The sports bar reopened in January 2025 after a year of missing out on big sporting events, plus loyal customers who would go every week to watch games. They were originally planning to open in April 2024, but the opening kept getting delayed due to investigators finding more damage from the smoke.
This article includes reporting from Janelle Finch, Courtney Yuen, Briana Fernandez and Janet Oravetz.
