Three sentenced in Amish communities arson case - coshoctontribune.com

Three sentenced in Amish communities arson case - coshoctontribune.com: "Three sentenced in Amish communities arson case

By JIM KONKOLY
Staff Writer


COSHOCTON -- Drugs and alcohol fueled the actions of three men responsible for a series of six arson fires in the Amish community.
County officials said Chad L. Sponaugle, Eric L. Miller and Rance L. McCluggage admitted to using illegal narcotics as well as alcohol on the evening of Sept. 29, when the fires were set.
The three were sentenced to prison on Wednesday.
Common Pleas Court Judge Richard Evans imposed five-year prison terms on each; Sponaugle, 21, and Miller, 20, of 1931 Ohio 83, Millersburg, and McCluggage, 21, of 4022 County Road 58, Millersburg.
All three pleaded guilty in December to two counts of aggravated arson, five counts of arson and five counts of breaking and entering.
Evans also ordered the three pay restitution totaling $395,075 for the destruction of a large barn, a sawmill operation and other facilities from six arson fires in the Amish communities of Coshocton and Holmes counties.
'They could be paying for the rest of their lives,' Coshocton County Prosecutor Bob Batchelor said, about the court-ordered restitution.
Batchelor called the sentences 'fair and just and according to law.' There is no chance for early release, he added, as Evans handed down 11 jail/prison terms to the three men. Since the terms are to be served concurrent, the men will each serve five years.
Sponaugle, Miller and McCluggage, admitted using crystal methamphetamine and marijuana, and were drinking heavily when they began their four-hour spree setting fires, according to Batchelor and Terry Baxter, the assistant public defender. Baxter represented Miller and McCluggage.
'It started w"

Sadly, Another Amish Buggy Death

The Sentinel Online - Archived Story: "Amish couple hospitalized
By Tiffany Pakkala, February 28, 2005
An elderly Amish couple was in Hershey Medical Center this morning after their buggy was struck and destroyed Sunday by a Ford Escort Sunday in Franklin County.


State police at Chambersburg say Donald Ulsh, 67, of Orrstown, was eastbound behind the horse-drawn vehicle on Rowe Run Road, Southampton Township, but failed to see it. He rear-ended the buggy at 9 a.m., police say.

The Amish couple, Eugene and Mary Weaver, also of Orrstown, were taken to the hospital by Life Lion Helicopter, which landed in a nearby field.

Thrown from buggy

A witness who was at the scene said Mary Weaver was apparently thrown from the buggy and was lying unconscious, partially under the horse, when emergency crews arrived.

The animal also was seriously injured and is not expected to survive.

Ulsh was not injured in the crash.



In addition to state police, West End Fire & Rescue, Pleasant Hall Fire & EMS, Cumberland Valley EMS and West Shore medic units from both Shippensburg and Chambersburg assisted at the scene.

Mary Weaver was listed in critical condition this morning.

Eugene Weaver's condition was not immediately available today, but he was listed in stable condition Sunday evening.

� Sentinel Correspondent Denny Clopper contributed to this story. "