Employee who torched cars gets prison time

Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000 | 4:48 a.m.

A Titanium Metals Corp. employee convicted of torching two cars during a nine-month labor strike at the Henderson plant has been sentenced to more than three years in prison.

Authorities said Steven Cupka, a 43-year-old welder, and at least two other Timet workers set fire to the cars of workers who crossed the picket line at the plant in late 1993 and early 1994.

On April 16 a federal jury found Cupka guilty of two counts of arson and one count of conspiracy. He was acquitted on three other arson counts.

U.S. District Judge Johnnie Rawlinson on Wednesday gave Cupka 41 months in prison. She also ordered him to pay $2,373 in restitution and gave him two years supervised release.

Co-defendants Richard Mix and Bahram Sarnessar pleaded guilty and testified against Cupka at his trial.

Mix was sentenced to 51 months in prison, three years supervised release and ordered to pay $20,810 in restitution. Sarnessar was sentenced to 41 months, three years supervised release and ordered to pay the same amount.

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