Arsonist-for-hire sentenced

WOOSTER -- A Wooster man who took part in an arson-for-hire case earlier this year was sentenced to two years of community control.

Gregory K. Schinke, 60, 503 Spink St. Rear, was sentenced Nov. 27 for one count of arson, a fourth-degree felony, in Wayne County Common Pleas Court by Judge Mark K. Wiest.

Schinke faces 18 months in prison should he violate the terms of his probation.

Schinke pleaded guilty to one count of arson in October and admitted he set a car on fire in order to collect insurance money from it with another man, Richard Strickler, 40, 5232 E. Messner Road, Apple Creek.

Strickler was indicted on two counts of arson and a pretrial is set for Tuesday.

The two allegedly were hired by Gale Sanborn, 66, 931 Albern Drive, Wooster, who has a jury trial scheduled for Feb. 6, also for two counts of arson.

During Schinke's plea hearing, Wiest told him per a new state law he would need to register as a convicted arsonist on a list made available to law enforcement.

The charges against the three people stem from a July 7 case when Wooster police were called to Sanborn's home to investigate the arson. The report indicates her 1976 Jaguar was set on fire. The vehicle was listed with an estimated loss of roughly $14,000.

Sanborn is an employee (it is unclear if she is the owner) of Argonaut Productions, a family-owned company that has for years been contracted to put on fundraisers for the Wayne County Sheriff's Reserves, such as the All-Star Country Music Spectacular, and various events for the Wayne County Fraternal Order of Police.

Former police Sgt. Robert Merillat said previously Sanborn knew at least one of the two men through Argonaut and a tip led police to learn of her role in hiring them to perform the arson.

He added Sanborn allegedly offered the two men a larger amount of money to perform the arson, but had paid only a small portion.

Reporter Steve Huszai can be reached at 330-287-1645 or [email protected]. He is @GeneralSmithie on Twitter.