Man sentenced for trying to burn house

EPHRATA - A Moses Lake man is serving two years in prison after trying to set a former roommate's house on fire during a fight.

A Grant County jury found Roger T. Hemore, 56, guilty of first degree arson and not guilty of second degree assault, according to Grant County Superior Court records.

Hemore has no previous felony convictions, and faced a sentencing range of one year and nine months to two years and three months in prison, according to court records.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz sentenced Hemore to two years in prison.

The incident started when the victim came home to find Hemore in his residence. Hemore hadn't lived in the residence for about three months, according to a Moses Lake police report. The two men began arguing about Hemore being inside the home. Hemore told the victim he was getting his items and leaving.

The argument continued until Hemore tried to punch the victim. The victim grabbed Hemore, holding him. The victim let Hemore go and told him to leave, according to the police report.

Hemore started to walk away, but turned, and tried hitting the victim with a partially sharpened sword, according to the police report. The victim tackled Hemore, taking him to the ground, and tried to hold him. After the struggle, the victim got up and ran to a bedroom and locked the door.

Hemore used a metal bar to punch holes in the door, according to court records. The victim reported hearing Hemore start "talking crazy" and saw smoke coming from under the door.

When the victim opened the door, Hemore tried to stab him, and the victim hit the man in the head with a crescent wrench about five to 10 times before escaping, according to the police report. The victim grabbed a burning roll of paper towels from the floor as he fled to a neighbor's house.