Man charged with arson and domestic violence

Staff report

WARREN

An innocent plea was entered Monday for Bruce Vonbergen, 31, of 1797 Lexington Ave. NW, charged with aggravated arson and felony domestic violence after police say he set fire to the house he shared with a 51-year-old woman.

The woman told police Vonbergen was pounding on the back door to the home late Sunday trying to get in after an earlier domestic incident and said something about her porch being on fire.

The woman looked out and saw flames at 11:28 p.m., so she and two others fled the house. Warren firefighters extinguished the blaze quickly.

Police arrested Vonbergen, who was standing in the road near the house, shortly after they arrived. The woman pointed him out to police.

The woman had called police at 11:15 p.m. that evening, reporting that Vonbergen had been under the influence of alcohol and had broken a variety of things in the home.

Police had observed numerous broken flower pots, Christmas decorations and a damaged home stereo when they were there the first time. Police searched for Vonbergen but were unable to locate him.

Judge Thomas Gysgem of Warren Municipal Court ordered that he be put in the Trumbull County jail without eligibility to make bond.

His next hearing will be Jan. 8. If convicted, Vonbergen could receive more than 10 years in prison.