St. Marys man is convicted in Delphos arson

11/7/2003

VAN WERT, Ohio - A St. Marys, Ohio, man was found guilty yesterday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court of aggravated arson and of insurance fraud.

Jurors deliberated for nearly six hours before issuing the verdict in the case of Raymond Eggeman, 61, who is formerly of Delphos, Ohio.

The charges stemmed from a September, 2002, fire at one of Eggeman s rental properties in in Delphos. Investigators said Eggeman set fire to an unoccupied property by pouring gasoline on carpeting and also by severing a natural gas line to feed the fire.

Defense attorneys had argued that Eggeman had no reason to burn the property. They also said he was not in Delphos on the day of the fire.

Sentencing was scheduled for Jan. 14 before Judge Charles Steele.