Former Ohio University student Nathan Cencula pleaded not guilty in Athens County Court of Common Pleas Wednesday for aggravated arson stemming from an incident last year.
Cencula was charged with aggravated arson June 4, a day after a fire was started in Brough House on South Green at about 2 a.m. The damage to the hall’s common room was estimated to be about $50,000.
He was indicted for aggravated arson, arson and criminal mischief, Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said in a previous Post article.
He is scheduled to appear for two preliminary hearings — Feb. 7 and March 28 — before his trial April 24.
Cencula was ordered to remain in the state of Ohio until at least the first court hearing.
If convicted of all three charges, Cencula could face up to 10 and a half years in prison and a fine of up to $22,500, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Over four years since his indictment, Patrick Slider appeared in Athens County Court of Common Pleas Wednesday for his pre-trial hearing Wednesday.
Slider, 48, was indicted for aggravated robbery, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of inducing panic and two counts of unlawful use of a hoax weapon of mass destruction in connection with a bank robbery in July 2008, according to court records.
Slider allegedly placed fake bombs in the post offices in Guysville and Stewart and robbed the Hocking Valley Bank in Coolville while police were investigating the cases. He stole about $20,000 in cash.
Slider allegedly faked his own death by spreading his own blood, which he collected with an IV, and fled to Michigan where he was arrested two months later.
Slider is also facing charges of tampering with evidence, burglary and an additional count of aggravated robbery for separate crimes.
Blackburn said nothing unusual occurred during the pre-trial and no plea agreement was made.
Slider’s trial is set for July 20 in Athens County Court of Common Pleas.
jj360410@ohiou.edu
rc348710@ohiou.edu
