Monessen man jailed for arson

A Monessen man has been sentenced to serve five-to-10 years in prison after pleading guilty to torching a bowling alley and an abandoned house, causing more than $450,000 in damages.

Jerry F. Griest, 45, of 246 Donner Ave., pleaded guilty to a total of 34 counts of arson, reckless endangerment, burglary and criminal mischief on Tuesday before Westmoreland County Judge Rita D. Hathaway.

The judge approved a plea bargain yesterday that, in addition to the prison time, calls for Griest to enter a specialized treatment program for people convicted of arson. By pleading guilty, Griest avoided having his fate determined by a jury.

"He could have gotten less, he could have gotten significantly more because of the amount of damages," said his lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Joe Massaro.

Monessen police say Griest confessed to starting fires at Star Lanes Bowling Center along Donner Avenue Nov. 18 and at an abandoned Schoonmaker Avenue house Dec. 21. In both cases, Griest admitted breaking in and using a lighter to burn furniture.

The bowling alley burned a little more than three months after it reopened following extensive renovations by owners Ed Weightman Jr. and Joe Stranko.

Authorities say the damages spread to nearby properties. Court documents indicate $454,482 in restitution claims -- $309,332 for the bowling alley alone. Whether Griest could pay full restitution is in question. Massaro said his client has learning problems and earned money mostly by doing odd jobs.

No one was injured in the fires.

When Griest was arrested, he already was on probation for fire-related offenses. In August 2003, he pleaded guilty to causing a catastrophe. Authorities say he set fire to a boat parked along a Donner Avenue driveway earlier that year.