Ohio Firefighter Sent to Prison for Arson

Aug. 02--LANCASTER, Ohio -- A former volunteer firefighter for a rural fire department in Fairfield County was sentenced today to seven years in prison after he admitted to starting a fire in a Lancaster restaurant.

County Common Pleas Judge Chris A. Martin sentenced Robert N. Steiner to five years for aggravated arson and two years for tampering with evidence, and ordered the sentences to run consecutively.

Steiner, 35, of Lancaster, who had volunteered with the Hocking Township Fire Department for about a year before he was charged, pleaded guilty to the crimes last month.

Steiner sobbed as he apologized to his family and friends, firefighters and the community.

But Steiner did not explain why he started a fire in a vent in the men's room of the Fiesta Tropicana Restaurant at 1236 N. Memorial Drive on Jan. 5.

It was a busy Saturday night at the popular Mexican restaurant, which was packed with diners that included Steiner, his mother and his 6-year-old daughter, Lancaster Police Det. Brian Grefe said at the sentencing hearing.

Steiner removed the ceiling vent cover in the men's room, stuffed the vent with toilet paper and trash and used a lighter to start the fire. An employee called 911 at 7:52 p.m., and city police and firefighters converged on the scene, Grefe said.

Smoke was filling the kitchen, and Steiner helped direct police and firefighters there, telling them he thought it might be an electrical fire. Afterward, a police officer saw Steiner throw away a lighter in the restaurant parking lot. He also hid the vent cover in the bushes, Grefe said.

Since he was charged, Steiner's mother, sister and girlfriend told the judge, he has attended weekly counseling along with Alcoholics Anonymous meetings three and four times a week to work through his issues and to figure out why he did something so stupid.

"Please accept my sincere apology," Steiner said. "I made a very bad decision that could have caused harm to people. I have no excuses for what I did. I am accepting full responsibility."

"I am more than grateful that no one was injured."

Steiner has paid $1,000 in restitution to the restaurant to cover smoke damage.

The judge said the sentence was appropriate because of the seriousness of the crime and the danger posed to the public.

Steiner will be eligible to apply for early release after five years, county Assistant Prosecutor Jocelyn Kelly said.

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