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Fire at sex offender’s camper ruled arson

2-6-2014 Ohio:

GILBOA — A fire inside a camper where a man facing a 46-count indictment including child sex crimes lived has been ruled arson, but authorities have no suspects.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has closed the investigation into the fire unless additional information surfaces, said Michael Duchesne, a spokesman for the agency.

The fire happened Dec. 21 inside a camper at 326 Sugar Ridge Road. Someone placed a large amount of clothing and combustible materials in the middle of the camper and set it on fire, Duchesne said.

The fire occurred the day after Gary L. Badertscher was arraigned on criminal charges.
Badertscher is charged with four counts of endangering children, one count of compulsion to involuntary servitude, two counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, six counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and 33 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material or performance.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 90.5 years in prison.

Two counts involve the same child and the other charges are for other children, a prosecutor said.

Badertscher is a registered sex offender for crimes in Florida in 2001 and 2006. Those crimes included committing or simulating sexual acts with or in the presence of a child under the age of 16 in a lewd, lascivious or indecent manner by an adult.