Landlord Avoids Jail In Fire That Killed Family
Published: May 29, 2009
Updated: May 29, 2009
KENTON, Ohio—A landlord whose house trailer caught fire and killed a family of five in Northwest Ohio will avoid jail time after agreeing to a plea deal.
Charles Sizemore of Lima pleaded no contest this week to reckless homicide. Prosecutors say he’ll receive community control, community service and a $2,500 fine.
He had faced up to five years in prison if convicted.
Investigators say electrical problems in the house trailer were to blame for the April 2008 fire in Ada.
Inspectors found there were no working smoke detectors in the home and that a rear door had been nailed shut.
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Reader Reactions
wow…. I rented a trailer last year from a couple of people and the electric in half the house ‘died’ and they never fixed it. My roommate called them almost every day about the problem. Thank God we never had a fire!
While I agree completely that the landlord was negligent in this unfortunate tragedy, I cannot believe that the family didn’t either INSIST that the door be fixed and smoke detectors be installed, or take matters into their own hands for the safety of their family. Regardless….a very sad story.
The Ohio legislature values business entities built on substandard housing more than life itself.
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