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Firefighters are calling the conviction of Roger Hale a "major victory" against arson in Kosciusko County.
Hale, 26, was found guilty of arson causing bodily injury, a Class A felony, Wednesday in Kosciusko Superior Court I. The 12-person jury deliberated for 4-1/2 hours before returning the guilty verdict.
Hale testified Wednesday afternoon that he did not start the fire that destroyed his home on CR 525W, Warsaw, on Sept. 24, 1996.
Hale could be given from 20-50 years for the conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for May 29 at 9:15 a.m.
Hale remains free on bond until the sentencing.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor Byron Tinkey, who tried the case, said the judge released Hale because Hale had appeared at all of his court-appointed appearances. Hale also had no previous criminal record.
"I have to thank the effort put forward by law enforcement, firefighters, Squad 70 and expert witnesses," Tinkey said. "They allowed the jury to have the facts and come up with the verdict of guilty."
"We want the message out that we will not tolerate firefighters' lives being put in jeopardy from arsonists," said Brook Murphy, lead investigator of the case for Kosciusko County Squad 70.
Six firefighters testified in the trial, and several sat through the rest of the three-day trial and awaited the verdict. Murphy said the firemen are "thrilled" with the conviction.
Hale was accused of setting the fire that destroyed his home to erase memories of his ex-wife. Testimony from firefighters and investigators said that burn patterns in the remains of the house were consistent with arson. Although tests revealed no evidence of an accelerant, investigators testified they believed an accelerant was used to start and spread the blaze.
Anita Shepherd, a former friend of Hale, testified Tuesday that she overheard Hale bragging about setting the fire. Her testimony was questioned Wednesday by the defense, who called Hale's brother, father and a family friend to dispute Shepherd.
Hale himself testified calmly that he did not start the fire. During questioning, he said that he even continued to pay the mortgage on the house after the fire.
Hale remained composed and quiet during testimony, turning to look in the jurors' eyes as he spoke. He described what he and his cousin did the night before the fire and how shocked he was when he arrived the next morning to find the house on fire.
"Do you know how it [the fire] started?" Thonert asked Hale.
"No, I do not," Hale said.
"Did you start it?" Thonert questioned.
"No, I did not," Hale said.
Defense attorney Richard Thonert continued to question firefighters and investigators as to what besides arson would cause the suspicious burn patterns. In closing arguments, Thonert also questioned whether Michael Blair, a firefighter, was injured because of the arson or because of his own fault.
Blair testified Monday he hit his knee on a window sill while he climbed in a second floor window of the home. Blair said he was working to suppress hot spots in the insulation of the upstairs. The knee injury later required surgery.
Tinkey closed his statements to the jury by reviewing how investigators eliminated the possible accidental causes of the fire. He said Blair suffered his injury trying to get into the house to fight the fire. Tinkey said law describes bodily injury as "any impairment of physical condition, including physical pain."
