As reported by WTRF, Harold S. Lighthizer, 61, a Zanesville native, has been sentenced to a 16-month prison term after being found guilty of theft. Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark C. Fleegle handed down the sentence and dictated that Lighthizer is responsible for $1,100 in restitution.
The curious case of the stolen roof tiles emerged in June, wherein Lighthizer was observed removing tiles and placing them into a rented box truck. "This isn’t the first time that Mr. Lighthizer has destroyed valuable assets in order to make a small scrap of money," Assistant Prosecutor John Litle said, according to a statement obtained by ABC6. In previous instances, Lighthizer's actions included logging a hillside within the city limits and, now, disrupting a housing rehabilitation effort by the city. Lighthizer claimed he had permission to dismantle the roof. However, police were called to the scene by a witness to his suspicious activities on June 13.
Following a complaint about the stolen roof the next day, authorities responded, though Lighthizer had absconded before their arrival. It wasn't until June 16 that law enforcement located Lighthizer's truck parked at a residence where he had convinced the homeowner of his need to park due to an impending move. Upon his approach to the vehicle, officers apprehended Lighthizer, discovering stolen property valued at $20,000 inside the truck.
Lighthizer, with a record of convictions spanning theft in 2005, 2015, and 2023, along with domestic violence, forgery, and violating a protection order, has become a well-known figure to local authorities, as noted by WHIZ News. The stolen tiles, which have an ostensibly small score, reflect a pattern of pilfering and a disregard for communal restoration endeavors within Zanesville. His criminal history is testimony to a tumultuous relationship with the law and local community assets.
