Judge wants to know why arsonists burned Firestone Mansion before sentencing

YOUNGSTOWN

Judge Lou D’Apolito said Wednesday as he accepted guilty pleas from two people for burning down the historic Firestone Mansion last fall that he wants to know the why before they know the how.

Translation: He wants to know why they did it before he decides how they will be sentenced.

Brian McKinney, 20, of Lakeshore Drive and Alexis Little, 20, of Sunnybrook Drive, each entered guilty pleas in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to charges of arson, a fourth-degree felony, and vandalism, a fifth-degree felony.

Prosecutors are recommending five years' probation, with six months of that to be served in the county jail, but Judge D’Apolito said he is not sure if that is an appropriate sentence, because the blaze destroyed the historic mansion in North Lima, which was built in 1880 and sits adjacent to Pine Lake. It was being renovated at the time of the fire.

“This case is a lot of frustration as a judge,” Judge D’Apolito said. “They not only burned down a house, they burned down a dream. What kind of value do you put on that?”

Read the complete story in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.