Published: 3/13/2003

Napoleon man indicted in Defiance arson cases

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DEFIANCE — A Napoleon man authorities alleged to have started 37 fires in four counties has been indicted in connection with two arson cases in Defiance County.

Julius Burch, 43, is charged with one count of aggravated arson and one count of arson, county Prosecutor Jeffrey Strausbaugh said.

Authorities allege that Burch set a fire in Dana Hall at Defiance College in July, 2001, causing $20,000 damage to the campus building. Burch also is charged with setting a fire at the Defiance Hospital thrift shop.

Burch, a convicted felon, is accused of starting 37 fires in Fulton, Henry, Defiance, and Wood counties from 2000 through 2002. He was indicted Jan. 13 on charges of aggravated arson and burglary after a fire at a Defiance County home on Ginter Road in 2002.

He is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on those charges at 10:30 a.m. April 1 in Defiance County Common Pleas Court.

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