For two hours on Halloween last year, Harvard Law School graduate Brian Schroeder built a bonfire in the Manhattan 9/11 chapel out of photos and mementos of people killed in the WTC attacks. His lawyer argued that his client was "profoundly intoxicated" during the arson, and may even have been drugged. And yesterday Schroeder himself told the judge, "I drank many alcoholic beverages... I have a very limited memory of the events. I cannot explain why I acted the way I did. But I take responsibility for my actions. I am sorry." Yet despite his heartfelt apology, Justice Rena K. Uviller (Columbia School of Law) sent a strong message to all Ivy League grads who would make a mockery of 9/11, and sentenced Schroeder to 100 hard hours of community service. more ›

There will be no jail time for the Harvard Law School grad who "doesn't remember" drunkenly setting fire to the chapel that houses remains of unidentified victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Overriding objections from prosecutors who wanted at least a one year sentence, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Rena Uviller offered Brian Schroeder a plea deal yesterday. If he stays out of trouble for one year and pays $25,000 in restitution, he'll be off the hook. "I don't see any point in ruining another life—that is, Mr. Schroeder's," said Judge Uviller yesterday. more ›

Remember that Harvard Law School grad who "doesn't remember" allegedly setting fire to the chapel that houses remains of unidentified victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks? Brian Schroeder was back in court yesterday begging for mercy, which prosecutors are not inclined to give. Assistant DA Lucy Lang told Justice Rena Uviller said she'd only consider a plea deal that includes a minimum of 1-to-3 years in prison and $25,000 in restitution, the Daily News reports. Lang also went into detail about the appalling act of arson, which took place over the course of two hours. more ›

The Harvard Law School grad accused of setting a fire inside a 9/11 memorial has pleaded not guilty. The lawyer representing 27-year-old Brian Schroeder says his client was "profoundly intoxicated" when the fire broke out and that he "has very limited memories of being inside the building," where he allegedly torched teddy bears, flowers, notes, and other mementos last fall. After the incident, Schroder reportedly told police: "It felt like an adventure, and I thought I was dreaming." more ›

In what must be the least surprising news item of the day, the law firm that was planning on hiring Brian Schroeder — the 26-year-old Harvard Law School grad suspected of setting a fire in a chapel containing the remains of unidentified victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks — has revoked its offer. The firm Sidley Austin recanted on its decision to hire Schroeder, who turned himself in to police after setting a blaze on Saturday morning that destroyed flowers, photos, and other mementos inside Memorial Park on the corner of First Avenue and East 30th Street. According to cops, he set the fire on a drunk dare, but Schroeder's attorney claims the Texas native, who moved to New York to accept the law job, had been drugged. more ›

The Harvard Law School grad suspected of setting a fire inside a memorial for unidentified victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks claims he was drugged before he torched the shrine. A lawyer representing 26-year-old Brian Schroeder said someone might have "put something in his drink" before the 26-year-old Ivy Leaguer — who moved to New York to accept a job at a law firm — set a blaze that destroyed flowers, notes, photos, and other mementos inside Memorial Park at First Avenue and East 30th Street. In fact, the attorney claims that Schroeder didn't realize he was setting a fire in a 9/11 memorial, "although police sources said he made sure to gather many of the teddy bears left by victims' families to start the fire," according to the Post. more ›

Acting on a dare, a drunk Harvard Law School grad allegedly set fire to a chapel yesterday that houses the remains of unidentified victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The perp — identified as 26-year-old Brian Schroeder — broke into Memorial Park near the corner of First Avenue and East 30th Street and set the blaze at around 9 am. The fire did not get to the remains, which are kept in climate-controlled containers awaiting advances in DNA technology that might allow them to be identified, but notes, photos, flowers, and other mementos inside the white-tented sanctuary were either stolen or burned. Schroeder turned himself in to police last night. more ›