Clark man pleads guilty to setting chair on fire

Published 10:12 am Friday, September 27, 2019

A man accused of threatening two people and setting a fire at an apartment building in May shouldn’t have to serve any additional jail time.

Roman Smith, 39, of 701 W. Lexington Ave., was arrested in May following the incident at an apartment building.

Wednesday, Smith pleaded guilty to amended charges of attempted first-degree wanton endangerment and attempted first-degree criminal mischief, which were reduced from first-degree wanton endangerment and first-degree arson.

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He was sentenced to 360 days in jail, but 221 of those were conditionally discharged for two years. He was also ordered to pay $2,378.99 in restitution.

Two counts of terroristic threatening, one count of tampering with physical evidence and seven counts of first-degree wanton endangerment were all dismissed as part of the agreement.

On May 10, firefighters and police were called to the apartment building after Smith allegedly started the fire on a chair, which damaged an awning and the building. Eight people were inside the building at the time of the fire.

Police said Smith twice threatened a witness while being interviewed.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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