Felon appeals conviction in fatal Fostoria blaze

9/4/2003

TIFFIN — A Fostoria man who is serving nine years for his role in a fatal fire last year has appealed his conviction to the Ohio Supreme Court.

In a notice filed Tuesday in Seneca County Common Pleas Court, Benjamin Greeno, 26, asked the high court to overturn a July ruling by the Third District Court of Appeals, Lima, which upheld his conviction on four felony counts.

Greeno pleaded guilty in November, 2002, to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and single counts of inducing panic and possession of crack cocaine. Authorities said he started a fire in a Fostoria rooming house July 4, 2002, killing Jamese Williamson, 4, and Richard Rayle, 84.

Greeno has argued that a police interview with him and its use as evidence against him violated his rights, a position rejected by the appeals court.