Man Gets 4 Years After House Explodes

CANTON, Ohio—A Virginia man has been sentenced to four years in prison for stealing copper pipes from a house in northeast Ohio, causing it to explode.

A Stark County judge on Monday also ordered 20-year-old Kyle Yacher of Salem, Va., to pay nearly $18,000 for the damage caused by last summer’s natural gas explosion.

The house in Canton was vacant in August when the blast occurred. Fire spread to two neighboring homes and a garage, and two firefighters were hurt, though not seriously.

Authorities say when the pipes were torn out, a gas line was ruptured, eventually leading to the explosion.

Yacher used to live in North Canton. Last month, he pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and aggravated arson.

He can apply for early release after six months.

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