Ex-Coach Accused Of Arson, Sex Assault

TROY, Ohio—A former western Ohio high-school basketball coach whose house was set on fire just days after he was charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl has been accused of setting the blaze himself.

Miami County Prosecutor Gary Nasal says 42-year-old James Clay was indicted last week on aggravated arson charges. Clay pleaded not guilty in Miami County Common Pleas Court on Monday.

Authorities who responded to the December 2007 fire north of Dayton also found a spray-painted racial slur on Clay’s car. Local ministers and Southern Christian Leadership Conference officials then urged authorities to investigate the blaze as a possible hate crime.

If convicted of the arson charge, Clay would face an additional eight years in prison.

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