Bar owner convicted of 3 counts in attempted arson.

Byline: Lee Hammel

WORCESTER - The co-owner of an Oxford bar has been convicted in U.S. District Court of three charges related to an attempted arson at the bar.

Roxanne Troy, 48, of Oxford, was convicted by a jury Tuesday on charges of attempted arson and two counts of soliciting someone to commit arson. The convictions carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervision.

The maximum penalty is 20 years and a $250,000 fine on each charge. Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV set sentencing for June 16, allowing Ms. Troy to remain free on conditions until then.

After six days of testimony, the jury delivered three guilty verdicts at 6 p.m., after two hours of deliberation.

The U.S. attorney's office alleged that between Feb. 26, 2007, and April 10, 2007, Ms. Troy attempted to commit arson at Rox's Nightclub, a bar at 124 Main St., Oxford. Ms. Troy, who also is known as Roxanne Corey, and her husband, David L. Troy, own Rox's and T.C.'s Variety, 126 Main St., Oxford.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karin M. Bell and David H. Hennessy presented evidence that the defendant paid someone $5,000 in February 2007 to burn down the bar with the promise of another $5,000 after the job was completed. When the plan failed, Ms. Troy solicited another person, prosecutors said.

She offered money and provided keys to the bar so the fire could be set from inside so it would look like an accident, the jury was told.

Ms. Troy discussed arson plans with a confidential witness in a tape-recorded conversation that also was presented as evidence. There was testimony that the poor financial condition of the bar prompted the arson attempt.

Louis P. Aloise and Michael C. Wilcox were Ms. Troy's lawyers. The case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oxford Police Department.

There had been no fires at Rox's in 2007 or before that, according to Oxford Fire Chief Jeffrey A. Wilson. The bar had been closed since Jan. 1, 2007, because it lost its liquor license for failure to comply with fire regulations.

The previous October, selectmen revoked the liquor license of T.C. Variety after police reported that the store sold alcohol to minors three times over five months.

The Troys have been identified as owners of Troy's Sports Bar at 125 Oxford St., Auburn. The license there was suspended in 2005 and 2006 for liquor violations.

They also have been identified as owners of the Hide-A-Way Pub at 49 Elm St., in Millbury. The pub was damaged by a fire in 1999 and rebuilt.

Last year, Millbury selectmen refused to allow a change of managers there, from Mrs. Troy to her daughter, Ashley Plasse. Selectmen cited pending legal issues against the bar owners as the reason for the denial.