A man found guilty by a federal jury in an arson case that resulted in injuries at Inter&Co Stadium was acquitted Monday, a U.S. district judge ruled.Giovanni Ramirez Reyes, 38, was convicted last October in the U.S. Middle District Court after prosecutors said he threw flares into a crowd of fans during an Orlando City soccer match on Feb. 24, 2024.The flares caused damage near the supporters section of the stadium and injured a 4-year-old girl.In Monday’s ruling, the judge said that although Ramirez Reyes acted recklessly and foolishly, the government did not prove the key element required for federal arson: malicious intent.The court said the evidence showed Ramirez Reyes intentionally threw the flares, but not that he intended to maliciously damage or destroy the stadium.Defense attorneys filed motions in January seeking a new trial and acquittal on the charges.According to court documents, Ramirez Reyes left a “couple of five-inch scuff marks on the concrete floor of the Supporters’ Terrace” and residue that has since disappeared.A defense filing also said the 4-year-old girl suffered a superficial burn on her wrist that required no medical attention.Ramirez Reyes’ attorneys argued that any prison term would amount to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment because “it would be grossly disproportionate to Mr. Ramirez’s crime.”Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. denied that motion as moot because there is no longer a conviction to sentence.The judge also ordered Ramirez Reyes released from custody.On Ramirez Reyes’ motion for a new trial, Dalton conditionally granted it in part and denied it in part.Separate memos were filed earlier this month by prosecutors and the defense. Federal prosecutors asked the judge to impose a minimum seven-year sentence. Ramirez Reyes’ defense argued that any sentence would violate his Eighth Amendment rights and asked that the case be dismissed.In the same memo, Ramirez Reyes submitted a handwritten letter apologizing to the child, her mother and Inter&Co Stadium.Orlando City Soccer Club declined to comment Monday on the judge’s order. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida also declined to comment on the ruling.Ramirez Reyes was originally facing up to 40 years in federal prison after he was indicted by grand jury on the arson resulting in injury charge in October 2024. Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.
A man found guilty by a federal jury in an arson case that resulted in injuries at Inter&Co Stadium was acquitted Monday, a U.S. district judge ruled.
Giovanni Ramirez Reyes, 38, was convicted last October in the U.S. Middle District Court after prosecutors said he threw flares into a crowd of fans during an Orlando City soccer match on Feb. 24, 2024.
The flares caused damage near the supporters section of the stadium and injured a 4-year-old girl.
In Monday’s ruling, the judge said that although Ramirez Reyes acted recklessly and foolishly, the government did not prove the key element required for federal arson: malicious intent.
The court said the evidence showed Ramirez Reyes intentionally threw the flares, but not that he intended to maliciously damage or destroy the stadium.
Defense attorneys filed motions in January seeking a new trial and acquittal on the charges.
According to court documents, Ramirez Reyes left a “couple of five-inch scuff marks on the concrete floor of the Supporters’ Terrace” and residue that has since disappeared.
A defense filing also said the 4-year-old girl suffered a superficial burn on her wrist that required no medical attention.
US Middle District Court
An Orlando soccer fan is accused and later convicted of throwing two flares at a crowd during an Orlando City soccer match on Feb. 24, 2024.
Ramirez Reyes’ attorneys argued that any prison term would amount to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment because “it would be grossly disproportionate to Mr. Ramirez’s crime.”
Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. denied that motion as moot because there is no longer a conviction to sentence.
The judge also ordered Ramirez Reyes released from custody.
On Ramirez Reyes’ motion for a new trial, Dalton conditionally granted it in part and denied it in part.
Separate memos were filed earlier this month by prosecutors and the defense. Federal prosecutors asked the judge to impose a minimum seven-year sentence. Ramirez Reyes’ defense argued that any sentence would violate his Eighth Amendment rights and asked that the case be dismissed.
In the same memo, Ramirez Reyes submitted a handwritten letter apologizing to the child, her mother and Inter&Co Stadium.
Orlando City Soccer Club declined to comment Monday on the judge’s order. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida also declined to comment on the ruling.
Ramirez Reyes was originally facing up to 40 years in federal prison after he was indicted by grand jury on the arson resulting in injury charge in October 2024.
Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.