Plea deal accepted in 2006 arson case in New Castle

He pleaded guilty to one count of arson, with a recommended sentence of seven to 14 years.

STAFF REPORT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A man charged in a 2006 explosion that destroyed nine homes and injured two people in addition to himself took a plea deal before his trial was to begin Monday.

Patrick Henry, 31, who lived at 833 Franklin Ave. in the city at the time of the explosion, had been accused of deliberately causing the natural-gas explosion in a suicide attempt. Authorities had said they believe he disconnected a gas line and held a flame to it, according to Vindicator files.

He was facing 47 counts of arson, one count of causing a catastrophe, 33 counts of criminal mischief, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of simple assault and eight counts of reckless endangering.

He pleaded guilty to one count of arson, with a recommended sentence of seven to 14 years.

County District Attorney John Bongivengo said an additional three years could be added because the arson is a parole violation. He was unsure why Henry was on parole.

Bongivengo said restitution will be ordered as part of the plea agreement.

Henry will go back to state prison in Fayette County to await his sentencing, set for Jan. 5.

The blast, which happened two years ago Nov. 27, injured a couple in their early 20s named Jared and Sophie Baker, who were on their way to check on Henry after he didn’t report to work that day.

Henry was Jared Baker’s co-worker at EaCo Chemical in Shenango Township, according to Vindicator files.

The couple arrived at Henry’s house around noon and were standing just a few feet from it when it blew up.

Jared Baker spent several days in a hospital with burns, and Sophie Baker spent three months in a hospital burn unit and a nursing home before finally returning home in February 2007, Vindicator files indicate.

Henry was also treated for his burns at a hospital.

The Bakers have an unlisted phone number and could not be reached Monday.