Rebecca M. Alsbaugh

Shaw identified the Defendant as Rebecca Alsbaugh, age 34, of Woolendean Road, Treasure Lake, Sandy Township, Pennsylvania.

On October 13, Sergeant Rodney Fairman of the Sandy Township Police Department filed a Criminal Complaint charging Alsbaugh with: 1) Criminal Solicitation to Commit Arson, F1; 2) Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Arson, F1; and 3) Corruption of Minors, M1, 2 counts.

An Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by Fairman states that at 4:35 am on September 25, 2010, the Sandy Township Police responded to a structure fire at an occupied home on Clear Run Road. A mother and her thirteen year old daughter were asleep in the residence and awakened by the family dog. The victims were able to escape the residence unharmed prior to arrival of the fire department.

On September 28, 2010, Fairman received information that the fire was intentionally set by two male juveniles, both age seventeen. Upon further investigation, Fairman determined that Alsbaugh solicited the juveniles to set fire to the residence because Alsbaugh claimed the victim was having an affair with her husband.

Alsbaugh developed a plan for the juveniles to start the fire. The juveniles met Alsbaugh at her residence, and she provided the juveniles with dark colored clothing, as well as a disposable lighter and instructions on how to start the fire. Alsbaugh then drove the juveniles through the rear gate of Treasure Lake and dropped the juveniles off at the I-80 bridge. After the juveniles started the fire, the juveniles fled the scene and sent Alsbaugh a coded text message to be picked up at the church located near the rear entrance of Treasure Lake. The Affidavit further provides that Trooper Greg Agosti of the Pennsylvania State Police was called to the scene. Trooper Agosti is a Fire Marshall for the Troop - C area and determined that the fire originated in the rear enclosed porch area of the
residence.

On October 7th, Fairman traveled to the State Police Headquarters in Punxsutawney to meet with Trooper Matthew Powell of the Computer Crime Unit. Trooper Powell was able to recover data from the victim's cell phone. Prior to the fire, the victim was receiving threatening text messages from Alsbaugh. On October 8th, Fairman served a search warrant on Alsbaugh's residence and recovered the dark clothing that was worn by the juveniles while starting the fire.

On January 31, 2011, Alsbaugh tendered an open plea of guilt to the charges of: 1) Criminal Solicitation to Commit Arson, F1; 2) Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Arson, F1, 2 counts; and 3) Corruption of Minors, M1, 2 counts.

The Honorable Paul E. Cherry sentenced Alsbaugh to a period of incarceration in the State Prison System, the minimum of which is eighteen months and the maximum of which is ten years. Cherry also ordered Alsbaugh to have no contact with the victim or any member of the victim's immediate family, and ordered that Alsbaugh pay approximately $7,000.00 in restitution.

Shaw believes the sentence the court imposed was appropriate for the seriousness of the crimes, and the hopes the sentence sends a message that these types of crimes will not be tolerated. Shaw commended the effort of the Sandy Township Police Department, noting that "Sergeant Fairman did an outstanding job investigating this case".

All calls to Crimestoppers are confidential.  Anonymous tips can also be submitted by visiting the Clearfield County District Attorney web site at "www.ClearfieldDA.org" and selecting "Report A Crime".