MOUNT VERNON — A 38-year-old Fredericktown man was sentenced Thursday to six months in the Knox County Jail for causing a fire that caused an estimated $450,000 damage at FT Precision.
In addition to 180 days behind bars, with no credit for time served, Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel placed Zachery Snyder on three years of community control and ordered him to pay $50,000 in restitution to FT Precision within three years.
The $50,000 matches the company’s fire insurance deductible.
The sentencing comes after a mid-trial plea agreement was worked out between the prosecution and defense in October.
Snyder agreed to plead guilty to attempted aggravated arson, a third-degree felony. He was indicted in April 2024 on two counts of aggravated arson for fires at FT Precision on April 16 and April 17, 2024. Both counts were second-degree felonies.
The plea deal midway through Snyder’s October trial dismissed the first count. Snyder pleaded guilty to the reduced charge on the second count.
Snyder must undergo an outpatient alcohol and drug assessment, drug monitoring, and obtain a mental health assessment. He must also register as an arson offender with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities took Snyder into custody after sentencing.
‘All I can do now is atone’
Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville said the plea deal was a good resolution.
“The plea resolution we reached in this case is a good balance of the severity of the crime itself and the fact that Mr. Snyder did not have a prior incident,” McConville said Thursday.
The prosecutor said the fire suppression system worked well, though it also caused most of the damage as it extinguished the flames.
Assistant Public Defender Brandon Crunkilton said Snyder acknowledged the seriousness of the crime.
“He shows a great deal of remorse,” Crunkilton said.
Crunkilton said Snyder has told him that, “All I can do now is to atone for my mistakes,” and that, “I need to show my family you can make mistakes and come back from it.”
He also said Snyder said his biggest apology goes to his family and FT Precision.
Crunkilton asked for community control for the sentence and said Snyder agreed to pay restitution. Snyder plans to tap his retirement fund to make a substantial dent in the $50,000 restitution and replace the funds as he continues working.
Wetzel agreed community control was appropriate in accordance to Ohio Revised Code 2929.11 and 2929.12. However, he said he is “by no means glossing over the things that occurred.”
“Your denial, then going through with a portion of the trial, and then admitting your guilt is an indication to this court that this is more serious than the law I just referenced,” Wetzel told Snyder.
Because of that, Wetzel imposed the longer three-year term of community control and jail time.
According to the FT Precision website, the company “is the resource for mass production of industry-leading precision parts with micron-level accuracy. FTP provides integrated process line production of steel and aluminum parts, including aluminum die-casting, in-house heat treat lab, all machining and assembly. From engine to transmission to chassis, FTP can serve diverse and specialized component needs for automotive, motorcycle, agriculture and other power products.”
