A 50-year-old Lancaster, Ohio man purposely set fire to his rented home to collect insurance money but failed to ponder the impact this would have on his family. Perhaps more deplorable than Roger Sattler's arson attempt itself was the little regard he showed for his fianc?e and children, who were temporarily displaced after the blaze but later sought shelter at a hotel with the assistance of a local Red Cross Chapter.
On Sept. 15, 2009, Sattler ignited the blaze while his fianc?e was away and the couple's five children were in school. Sattler then filed fraudulent insurance claims for items that were supposedly damaged during the fire. Such high-ticket items included TVs and other electronics, which officials later uncovered at various points in the Lancaster area.
Sattler pleaded guilty on Dec. 10, 2009 to one count of insurance fraud, a fifth-degree felony. He also pleaded guilty to one count of attempted aggravated arson, a third-degree felony. A charge of aggravated arson was lessened to attempted aggravated arson in a plea agreement.
At sentencing, Judge Richard Berens of the Fairfield County Common Pleas Court ordered Sattler to serve four years in prison -- one year for insurance fraud and three years for attempted aggravated arson. Sattler must spend three years under supervision upon release from prison. In addition, he will pay $5,957 to the Lancaster Fire Department and $3,500 to the owner of the house for restitution.
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