Heiny
A Bargersville man was sentenced to 10 years for four charges including attempted arson.
Santiago J. Heiny, 41, was sentenced to eight years in prison and two years on probation late last week. He was found guilty of attempted arson as a Level 4 felony, strangulation and intimidation as Level 6 felonies, and domestic battery as a misdemeanor, by a Johnson County Circuit Court jury in March. The jury deliberated for only an hour before returning a verdict of guilty as charged on all counts, said Lance Hamner, Johnson County prosecutor.
The incident occurred Oct. 16, 2020. Heiny and a woman who shared an apartment in Bargersville were arguing and that escalated into violence when Heiny punched and choked the woman, prosecutors say.
The woman fled from the apartment with a friend and Heiny made a phone call where he threatened to burn down the apartment complex unless the woman returned.
Heiny attempted to carry out the arson threat by pouring a large amount of vodka around the apartment and attempting to light it. Investigators confirmed the apartment had been soaked with vodka, prosecutors say.
“When a person has intent to commit a crime and then takes an affirmative step towards accomplishing it, he is guilty of attempting to commit that crime,” Hamner said in March. “An attempt to commit a crime is the same as if he actually accomplished it and carries the same penalty.”
In a recording provided by the woman, Heiny was heard saying, “I’m going to burn this (expletive) down,” court documents show.
If Heiny had set fire to the apartment, residents of 15 other units in the complex would have been put in danger in addition to the victims, according to court documents.
The conviction was made more challenging for prosecutors because the woman declined to participate and evidence was limited, Hamner said in a news release.
“I was particularly proud of our trial team Bryan Smith and Ranissa Dycus in prosecuting this case. They received no cooperation from the witnesses and were yet able to prove this serious felony on the basis of video and photographic evidence,” Hamner said. “We are pleased to see that this dangerous individual will be spending a substantial part of the next decade in a maximum security prison where he can’t hurt anyone else.”
Numerous resources are available for domestic violence victims. Columbus-based Turning Point Domestic Violence Services’ 24-hour Crisis Helpline can be reached at 1-800-221-6311. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached by calling 1-800-799-7233, or texting START to 88788. A live online chat is also available.
