Submitted photo
This is a photo of a home at 521 North State Road 267 in Avon which the home’s former owner, Robert Chance, pleaded guilty to setting on fire on Jan. 28, 2007.
by Brian Kern
AVON — An Avon man who set his own house ablaze has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of arson.
Robert Chance, 44, pleaded guilty to the class ‘B’ felony charge and was ordered to pay $101,586.60 in restitution, in addition to the prison term. Investigators believe he burned down his home which had been approaching foreclosure according to investigation reports from the Avon-Washington Township Fire Marshall’s office.
Firefighters were called to Chance’s home at about 10:35 p.m. Jan. 28, 2007, after witnesses saw the blaze and called 911.
Chance was not home at the time of the fire and investigators were unsuccessful in their efforts to reach him until neighbors spotted Chance outside of the home three days later. They called the Fire Marshall’s office who observed that Chance had parked his truck across the street from his home in the Avon-Washington Township Library parking lot.
Chance told investigators that he had been living in the house at the time of the fire and that he had owned the residence since 2004. He also stated that he had recently been laid-off as an aircraft mechanic with ATA. Investigation reports claim that Chance had not made a mortgage payment in over a year and had been going through the foreclosure process.
Upon questioning, Chance told investigators that he had left his house bound for Connersville sometime between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on the day of the fire. He said that he had intended to visit his father. Chance claimed that he parked his truck outside of his father’s home where he waited all night in anticipation of his father getting up for work at 4:30 a.m. He said that when his father’s bedroom light did not come on, he opted to drive back to Avon.
Chance said that he approached the scene at around 6 a.m. the following day and did see fire equipment in his driveway. However, he drove by the scene without stopping.
Fire investigators also admit that their suspicions were aroused when it was learned that Chance took his pet ferret with him to Connersville, when he had rarely done so in the past.
Investigators were able to determine that the fire had started in the home’s basement and when asked the easiest way to ignite a basement fire, Chance told investigators that there was a box of matches down there and that someone could have used them to light cardboard, magazines, and aerosol cans on fire. He then denied setting the fire himself.
One firefighter suffered a minor knee injury while battling the blaze. He was transported to Hendricks Regional Health in Danville, where he was treated and released.
Hendricks County Prosecutor Patricia Baldwin said that Chance backed off his denial of setting the fire after failing a lie detector test.
“He confessed and apologized to the firefighter he injured after failing the polygraph,” Baldwin said.
She added that the sentence was within the median average for such crimes and that Chance was fortunate that the firefighter’s injuries were not more severe.
brian.kern@flyergroup.com
Local News
Related Photos
-
This is a photo of a home at 521 North State Road 267 in Avon which the home’s former owner, Robert Chance, pleaded guilty to setting on fire on Jan. 28, 2007. Submitted photo
Arsonist sentenced to 10 years
Investigators believe man burned down home to avoid foreclosure
- Local News
-
-
BPD training facility draws law officers from near and far
Tucked away on the north end of Brownsburg is one of Indiana’s hidden law enforcement training gems. The facility’s state-of-the-art training has law enforcement professionals, including federal agents from throughout the nation and beyond, coming to hone their abilities in Hendricks County.
-
Plainfield man arrested in band theft
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department detectives and officers with the Southwest Neighborhood Resource Office collaborated in arresting 28-year-old Timothy Pepper of Plainfield in connection with a musical equipment heist from a rock band’s trailer.
-
Beacon of Hope prepares for annual jazz event
The Beacon of Hope Center for Women’s fourth annual winter fundraiser will move to The Murat Shrine Center this year. The theme for the event is “Evening of Hope & All That Jazz.”
-
Civic Theatre presents 'classic farce'
Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre continues its inaugural season at the Center for the Performing Arts with the audience and actor favorite comedy by Ken Ludwig, "Lend Me A Tenor," Feb. 10-25 at the Tarkington, 3 Center Green, Carmel.
-
Beef & Boards to have auditions for young performers
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre will host auditions for young performers in March.
-
Myers opens 2012 season with 'I Do! I Do!'
Myers Dinner Theatre announces the first show in their 2012 season, "I Do! I Do!" opens Feb. 8.
-
Bratwurst voted best Super 46 Sandwich
The Schnitzelbank Restaurant's Bratwurst is the winner of the Super 46 Sandwich competition. The restaurant, located in Jasper, garnered 63 percent of the vote for its brat in the final round over the Mile High Club from Rock Cola 50s Cafe in Indianapolis.
-
Man found shot dead in west side home
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers are working the apparent homicide of 20-year-old Derik Tanner, found shot to death in a residence along the 1600 block of N. Livingston Ave.
-
Indianapolis gets rave Super Bowl reviews
The early reviews are in for the city’s first Super Bowl and they are through the roof.
Mayor Greg Ballard was at the Indianapolis International Airport Monday morning to thank the many travelers who visited Indianapolis.
-
Habitat builds on Super Bowl hoopla
CAMBY — More than 80 volunteers participated in the Habitat for Humanity Super Build Event last Friday where walls for two homes were built.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Murder Trial for Ex-U.Va. Lacrosse Player Begins
NY Giants Touch Down Victorious
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Few Answers in Death of Sons of Missing Utah Mom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
Blast Kills Husband of Missing Utah Mom, 2 Boys
Obama: US, Israel Will Work Against Iran Nukes
Romney Picks Up Decisive Win in Nevada Caucuses
