Auto Shop Owner Guilty Of Arson, Insurance Fraud

A DuBois man pleaded guilty Monday to torching his Jefferson County auto repair shop in 2016 with the hopes of cashing in on the insurance payment. John Lechiara, 52, of DuBois, pleaded guilty to arson, reckless burning or exploding, and insurance fraud charges in Jefferson County Court and was sentenced to serve 1 1/2 to 3 years in a state prison, followed by five years of probation. He has been jailed since March, in lieu of posting $100,000 cash bail. Lechiara had two insurance policies on the building at the time of the fire.