GALLIPOLIS - The man responsible for the Jan. 11, 2006 downtown fire that gutted two unoccupied buildings and damaged an adjoining real estate building was found guilty of parole violations and sentenced to prison.

William Young, 21, 46-1/2 Mill Creek Road, Gallipolis, was originally indicted for one count of aggravated arson by the March 1, 2006 Gallia County grand jury.

The indictment was the result of a joint investigation by the city police, the Gallipolis Volunteer Fire Department, Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office and the Gallia County Sheriff's Department.

An unnamed juvenile was also arrested in connection with the fire and was sentenced to 12 months probation and 20 hours of community service on a misdemeanor of the first degree charge of arson.

Young later pled guilty to arson and was sentenced to two years community control.

Last Friday, Young again appeared before Gallia County Common Pleas Judge D. Dean Evans, and this time was charged with community control violations.

Young was found guilty and sentenced to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections for 17 months for arson.

For several hours, Gallipolis, Point Pleasant W.Va., Springfield Township and District 2 fire departments battled the blaze that gutted two unoccupied buildings owned by Rick Martin and damaged the offices of Wiseman Real Estate agency and an upstairs apartment.

All three buildings were eventually torn down.

In December, the Wiseman Real Estate Agency poured the foundation for its new building, which is currently under construction. It should be completed by the end of summer.

Another man also faces prison time, after pleading guilty in Common Pleas Court to possession of drugs, in which he was supposed to receive two years community control.

Randy Masters, 28, 2170 Millcreek Road, Gallipolis, was indicted on May 19, 2006 for possession of drugs and later pled guilty to the charge.

According to the plea agreement, Masters was supposed to be sentenced to two years community control and was scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 5, 2007.

After failing to appear at his sentencing, Masters was arrested and sentenced to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections for 11 months, according to court records.