The last of the defendants charged in connection with the fire near the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge was sentenced to three years of probation on Thursday, June 26.
Zachary Stumpf, 23, of Owensville, initially was charged with multiple counts of aggravated arson, but pleaded guilty to a single count of obstructing justice in May as part of a plea deal.
Obstructing justice, a felony, carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Patrick Dinkelacker also ordered Stumpf to attend drug treatment. The judge said Stumpf clearly has a serious drug problem. He said this year alone three people he sentenced to probation have died due to overdoses.
Stumpf’s lawyer Richard Wendel said his client has already started drug treatment while being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center.
Stumpf apologized for his role in the fire and the effect it had on the citizens of Cincinnati.
“I appreciate you all giving me the chance to rehabilitate myself,” he said in court.
The other three defendants in the case all accepted plea deals.
Terry Stiles, 39, of Arlington Heights faced the most serious charges. He admitted to one count of aggravated arson and one count of arson. Dinkelacker sentenced him to nine to 13 and a half years in prison.
Kaitlen Hall, 25, and James Hamilton, 26, both pleaded guilty to obstruction of official business, a misdemeanor. The Arlington Heights residents were both sentenced to probation and community service.
Prosecutors said the pair lied to investigators when law enforcement officials were searching for Stiles and Stumpf.
Cincinnati police said Stiles and Stumpf intentionally started the fire at the 1000 Hands Playground on Nov. 1, which caused millions in damages and affected traffic for months.
Prosecutors said the fire caused $11.5 million in damage to the Ohio Department of Transportation’s property and another $2 million to the property of the Cincinnati Parks Department.
Prosecutors and police have said nothing regarding the motive behind setting the fire.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Final defendant in fire that closed Big Mac bridge gets sentenced to 3 years probation
Reporting by Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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