GALLIPOLIS — A Bidwell man charged with lighting a gasoline fire that damaged a Vinton residence last July was recently sentenced in the Common Pleas Court of Gallia County.

Rodney S. White, 46, was sentenced last week to five years of probation after pleading guilty in December to one count of third-degree felony arson.

According to the original complaint filed with the Gallipolis Municipal Court and signed by Allen Flickinger of the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office, a domestic dispute occurred just prior to the fire that damaged the home located on Ohio 160 near the Gallia/Vinton county line.

The dispute occurred between the defendant and the residents of the home on July 30, 2012, according to the complaint, and White later admitted to leaving the residence, kicking over a gas can located by the back door of the dwelling and intentionally lighting the spilled gasoline. The resulting fire caused “substantial” damage to the home.

Following an initial appearance in the Gallipolis Municipal Court, White’s bond was set at $400, 000, 10 percent.

He was later indicted by a grand jury on one count of aggravated arson, a second degree felony, for intentionally lighting the fire that caused damage to the single-family dwelling located at 19817 Ohio 160.

The defendant later appeared for an arraignment on September 19, and his bond was reduced to $25,000, 10 percent.

A plea agreement deadline was later continued in this case, and White’s bond was reduced to an own recognizance bond in November. He was released from the Gallia County Jail.

A proposed guilty plea was filed on December 6, and a victim’s statement agreeing to the proposed plea and signed by Chief Deputy Richard Grau of the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office was filed on December 10.

During the plea hearing on December 21, White entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge of third-degree felony arson.

A sentencing hearing was later continued and during that hearing held last week, White was ordered to report for five years of probation.

He was further ordered to pay $50 a month, perform 500 hours of community service and pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim in this case.

White was given credit for 100 days of jail time served, was ordered to have no contact with the victim and was ordered to pay the cost of prosecution.