A Lucas County Common Pleas Court judge ordered today that a man convicted of setting a fire that killed two Toledo firefighters spend a maximum of 20 years in prison.
The defendant’s plea, conviction, and sentencing came just after Judge Stacy Cook declared a mistrial in the case because jurors heard testimony that was considered incriminating toward the suspect.
Ray Abou-Arab, 64, agreed to enter Alford pleas to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of aggravated arson for setting fire to a Magnolia Street apartment building he owned Jan. 26, 2014. Toledo Fire Pvts. Stephen Machcinski, 42, and James Dickman, 31, died fighting the blaze.
The charges carried a maximum penalty of 44 years, but under the plea agreement he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He will need to register annually as an arson offender. Other counts against Abou-Arab were dismissed and he was given credit for 1,196 days spent in jail.