Wapaka man charged with arson and animal cruelty

Oct. 30—WAPAKONETA — Not guilty by reason of insanity was entered Monday in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court on behalf of a 77-year-old Wapakoneta man charged with arson, criminal use of an explosive device and cruelty to a companion animal.

Gerald Fullenkamp was arrested Oct. 24 after a grand jury indicted him for a series of events that allegedly occurred Oct. 5 in Auglaize County. Indictments were returned charging Fullenkamp with two counts of aggravated arson, first- and second-degree felonies. Prosecutors allege Fullenkamp, ​​through fire or explosion, knowingly created a substantial risk of serious physical harm to the occupied structure.

He was also charged with criminal use of an explosive device, a second-degree felony, for allegedly using “a chemical weapon, biological weapon, radiological or nuclear weapon or explosive device that creates a risk of death or serious physical harm to another.” “, the indictment says.

The indictment also contained two counts of cruelty to a domestic animal, alleging that Fullenkamp caused serious physical harm and “tortured, mutilated, severely beaten, poisoned or needlessly killed” a domestic animal.

Defense attorney Nick Catania filed a motion Monday asking the court to order a psychiatric evaluation for his client. Judge Frederick Pepple ordered that evaluation to take place Nov. 7 at the Western Ohio Forensic Psychiatry Center in Dayton.

According to court records, all criminal proceedings in the case have been suspended pending the completion of the examination.

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