Jury Convicts Ex-Coach In Arson Case

TROY, Ohio—An Ohio jury has convicted a former high school basketball coach of setting fire to his home in the days after he was charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.

Authorities who responded to the fire at James Clay’s house in Troy also found a spray-painted racial slur on his car. Prosecutors said Clay, who is black, started the fire to cast himself as the victim of a racial crime.

The 42-year-old Clay was convicted Thursday of aggravated arson in the 2007 fire. Sentencing has been scheduled for Sept. 21.

Clay, who coached at Troy Christian School north of Dayton, was convicted last year of sexual battery and is serving a five-year prison term.

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