New Smyrna Beach Arsonist To Spend 25 Years In Prison

New Smyrna Beach, FL - He was originally staring down the possibility of life in prison, now a man responsible for burning down a home in New Smyrna Beach learns he will spend the next 25 years behind bars instead. 36-year-old David Debenedictis was convicted on five felony counts of arson, armed burglary, grand theft, grand theft of a firearm, and possession of amphetamines back on May 6 for his role in a "criminal episode" that took place back in June 2018. It was during that "episode" that Debenedictis and another co-defendant, Angela Halcomb, whose case is still pending, were accused of burning down a home on Turnbull Bay Road. During the investigation into the fire, detectives discovered a safe inside the home that had been cut open with a saw and learned that two trailers were also missing from the property. The pair was arrested by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office (VSO) around a month after the fire. Subsequently, deputies recovered several firearms, jewelry, cash, and other personal items. "The day that career scumbag David Debenedictis got locked up was a great day for Volusia County, and my hope is that he’s never going to walk free to victimize another innocent person," said Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood about Debenedictis’ conviction.  It took a jury around two hours to return a guilty verdict at the end of his 2-and-a-half day trial.