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LISBON -- A Bayard Road man pleaded guilty last week to aggravated arson for setting fire to his neighbor's house during a dispute more than a year ago.
Harold J. Dunlap, 61, Bayard Road, Minerva, appeared before Judge C. Ashley Pike in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. He is facing up to 10 years in prison for the second-degree felony charge, although Assistant County Prosecutor Ryan Weikart said he will be seeking a four-year prison term at the time of sentencing. Additionally, he would be seeking restitution.
Defense attorney James Wise indicated there are some "mitigating circumstances" regarding what happened that day, including a long-running dispute between Dunlap and his neighbor, Mark Morgan. Wise requested additional time above what is usually scheduled for a sentencing hearing, because he intends to have some people making statements besides Dunlap at the hearing, set Nov. 5.
According to Weikart, Dunlap set fire to Morgan's double-wide house on April 16, 2017 by using lint from the dryer vent to aid him. Weikart pointed out Dunlap's actions were captured on a recently installed surveillance camera at Morgan's home.
djohnson@mojonews.com