Landlord gets 90 days in mobile-home deaths

7/14/2009

KENTON, Ohio The owner of a run-down mobile home in Ada that caught fire last year, killing a family of five, was sentenced yesterday to 90 days in jail and placed under community control for five years.

Hardin County Common Pleas Judge William Hart told Charles Sizemore, 58, of Lima, Ohio, that if he violates terms of his community control, he could be ordered to spend up to 15 years in prison.

Judge Hart also ordered Sizemore, who pleaded no contest to five counts of reckless homicide, to perform 500 hours of community service, pay $2,500 in fines, and pay $262 in restitution to the county prosecutor s office.

Hardin County Prosecutor Brad Bailey said public donations covered the funeral expenses for Thomas Farkasdi, 39, his wife, Shirley, 35, and their three children: Jessica, 7; Tiffany, 6, and Joseph, 4 months. The April 4, 2008, fire was determined to have been caused accidentally. The Ohio Fire Marshal s Office said it was most likely caused by faulty wiring.