Convictions are upheld in Kansas City Hereford House arson

A federal appeals court has upheld the convictions of three men prosecuted for the 2008 explosion and arson fire that destroyed Kansas City’s Hereford House restaurant.

Rodney J. Anderson, a part owner of the restaurant at 2 E. 20th St., Vincent Pisciotta and Mark A. Sorrentino were convicted in federal court.

Anderson and Sorrentino were sentenced to 15 years in prison. Pisciotta, who had a prior criminal record, received a 20-year sentence.

In its ruling Thursday, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected all the appeals claims, including issues concerning the testimony of Sorrentino’s former wife and evidence uncovered after trial that raised questions about her testimony.

The appeals court found that even if jurors had heard that new evidence, it would not have been likely to change the outcome of the trial.

This story was originally published April 17, 2015 at 10:55 AM with the headline "Convictions are upheld in Kansas City Hereford House arson."