Man enters guilty plea related to 2017 Youngwood house fire
An Irwin man pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor charge stemming from a 2017 fire at his former home in Youngwood.
Shaun Wallace, 41, was ordered to serve two years on probation and six months of house arrest for his involvement in the second of two fires police said were set at 222 S. 3rd St. on Sept. 8, 2017.
Felony counts of arson, reckless burning and risking catastrophe were dismissed as part of a plea deal approved by Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger
The first fire, in the home’s basement, produced little damage, according to investigators.
A witness told police that Wallace later stuffed tissue paper under a sectional couch and used a lighter to ignite a fire and admitted to setting the blaze for insurance money.
No injuries were reported in either fire. Wallace’s home had extensive damage; a neighbor’s home had smoke and other damage, police said.
Youngwood borough officials filed a lawsuit in 2018 seeking a court order to demolish two homes damaged in the fire.
In court on Monday, Wallace pleaded guilty to one amended misdemeanor charge of failing to report or control a fire.
The judge ordered Wallace to continue with mental health treatment as part of the sentence imposed Monday.
Rich Cholodofsky is a TribLive reporter covering Westmoreland County government, politics and courts. He can be reached at rcholodofsky@triblive.com.
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