Philadelphia Sound arsonist pleads guilty

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A Whitman man pled guilty Tuesday to arson and related offenses after he set fire to the home of the Sound of Philadelphia.

In addition to arson, Christopher Cimini, 27, of the 2700 block of South Fairhill Street, pled guilty to causing catastrophe, criminal trespassing, criminal mischief and failing to prevent catastrophe for the fire he ignited at Philadelphia International Records, 309 S. Broad St., on Feb. 21, according to court records. He also is expected to pay $11,000 in restitution, Phil Asbury, attorney for Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, said.

“My view is that it’s the only choice the defendant had,” he said of the plea. 

About 40 percent of the memorabilia inside the building that housed some of Gamble and Huff’s more than 100 gold and platinum records and more than 70 No. 1 hits was damaged in the fire as was the studio where many hits were recorded.

“The studio will never be the same … A lot of its popularity is derived from the fact that those great producers worked in that room,” Asbury said. “That’s now gone forever.”

Cimini, who was believed to be intoxicated, set the building ablaze and had to be rescued from the third-floor by the fire department. He was transported to Jefferson Hospital for smoke inhalation and small lacerations and released. He turned himself in to East Detective Division three days later.

Cimini will be sentenced Sept. 10. The maximum sentence would be close to 60 years, which would be too harsh while the minimum sentence of two or three years would be too light, Asbury said.

Contact Staff Writer Amanda Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.

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