HOUSTON -- The man accused of setting the Gallery Furniture warehouse on fire and destroying $20 million in property and merchandise, is scheduled to go on trial this week acting as his own attorney.
Robert Caroll Gillham, 68, a former Gallery employee fired from the company in 2007, is charged with first-degree criminal mischief. A conviction could get him up to life in prison. If prosecutors had chosen to take him to trial on An arson charge, a conviction could have been capped at 20 years.
"I think all of us here are pretty much ready for the trial to begin, let the justice take its course and we are ready to get this chapter behind us and move on to other things," said Gallery Furniture owner Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale.
The 70,000 square foot warehouse behind Gallery Furniture burned to the ground in May of 2009, but has since been rebuilt.
Gillham had been fired two years before for allegedly running a loan-sharking business that preyed on Gallery employees. McIngvale obtained a restraining order when Gillham reportedly threatened employees after his firing.
Prosecutors say Gillham’s motive was revenge, that he initially tried to hire former co-workers to burn down the business then told his girlfriend he would do it himself. A car matching the description of his girlfriend’s vehicle was seen leaving the fire.
"I don’t know if I’m mad. I’m very disappointed you know," said McIngvale. "Not only did he ruin his life but lots of other people’s lives, again if he’s convicted, all that’s a caveat, but it’s just sad that it all had to end up this way."
Held in jail since his arrest, Gillham has decided to act as his own attorney. A bad choice says 11 News Legal Expert Prof. Gerald Treece of the South Texas College of Law.
"It’s the theatre of the absurd every time I’ve seen one of these cases. And the judges hate it, the DA hates it and I think the system won’t be any better for it but, by golly, in a federal case you have the right to waive the right to your lawyer and do it yourself."
McIngvale is scheduled to testify during the trial. About two dozen of his employees have been subpoenaed in the case. If Gillham goes forward with representing himself, he could cross-examine his former boss.
"The whole thing with him has been bizarre," said McIngvale. "Hopefully, there will be the right verdict. Whatever the court decides is the right verdict, so we are just going to go down there and tell our part of the story and let the jury decide which is the right way, the American way."
Gillham’s trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday.
