Three individuals accused of firebombing an Oak Park residence in January 2006 have been sentenced to three years in prison. Suspects, Richard Collins, 46; Tausha Newsome, 35; and Rashikendra Prasad, 26, each pleaded no contest in lieu of a trial on charges of arson and conspiracy felonies.

The three were arrested on Jan. 15, 2006, for the firebombing of Sacramento State recreation and leisure studies professor Beth Kivel’s residence.

At the time of the attack, Kivel and her partner were asleep in their Oak Park home when Kivel woke up from a loud thud on her front porch. Upon investigation, she found that her front porch was on fire.

The device that was used in the attack was a Molotov cocktail. The explosion caused mild damage to the integrity of the house and, as Kivel said at the time, the entire explosion caused only a scorch mark on the front of the house.

Since the attack, Kivel stepped down from her board member role on the Oak Park Neighborhood Association. She still plays an active role in restoring the community.

Kivel said she was involved with getting the illegal dumping off the streets, working to get abandoned cars towed and slum lords to take responsibility for their property and their tenants.The attacks have not deterred the organization. In fact, they have motivated it even more, Kivel said.

However, the potential for a reprisal of violence could never be completely eliminated. Kivel hopes the incident won’t incite further problems, even worse ones.

“The neighbors are looking out for each other,” Kivel said.”The police are very familiar with the case. If I felt at all that there was a threat, I might go back to the district attorney and ask for a stay-away order.”

Kivel said that might be something she might do anyway.The identification, apprehension and subsequent conviction of the suspects was the result of a concerted effort between the Sacramento Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office.

Special Agent in charge of the ATF’s San Francisco division, Stephen Martin, said in a press release, “Firebombing is a violent crime. The firebombing of a home is a crime that demands justice. With the assistance of a witness, the technology of DNA and the tenacious efforts of investigators, justice was served.”

Albert Najera, Sacramento’s Chief of Police, stated in a press release, “This case highlights the effectiveness and importance of cooperation between federal and local law enforcement. It’s imperative we protect those citizens working hardest to facilitate change in our communities.”

Kivel speculated the motives behind the attack were because the people responsible didn’t like the fact that she represented a group of people who were trying to clean up the neighborhood.

“I challenged one in particular on numerous occasions about their disruptive behavior,” Kivel said. “To me, it was definitely intimidating. I was genuinely fearful.”

Oak Park is the oldest subdivision in Sacramento, established in 1889. Kivel is very optimistic about the future of her home and the future of her community altogether. The organization continues to make strides towards improving Oak Park. People are buying and building in the area, Kivel said.

“It’s a different neighborhood than when I moved in there two-and-a-half years ago,” Kivel said.

Josh Staab can be reached at [email protected]