A Deshler man was sentenced Friday to community control on an attempted arson charge stemming
from an incident at a North Baltimore church.Jeremiah Houk, 32, appeared in the courtroom of Wood County
Judge Alan Mayberry.Houk was initially indicted on one count of arson and one count of breaking and
entering following the Aug. 26 incident at the Praise Chapel, located at 500 W. Broadway St.Houk had
reportedly thrown "a flammable cocktail intentionally to set fire" to the site.As part of a
plea agreement, the breaking and entering count was dropped and the arson count was amended to attempted
arson.Houk’s attorney, William Stephenson, said that "although this is a felony 5, as felony 5
attempted arson goes, this is an extremely heinous offense, extremely offensive to the
community."He noted that while the church had "turned the other cheek," he did not expect
such action from the court.However, Stephenson noted the defendant’s "drug-dealing, drug-addicted
father" introduced Houk to marijuana at a young age."It’s just been a history of drug abuse
and alcoholism since then."Stephenson said that Houk told him he’d committed the offense during a
"blackout" period; he reportedly acted out of anger about "his crumbling
life."Prosecuting Attorney Aram Ohanian said that with Houk’s attempt to burn down a church
"there are of course societal and religious overtones to that which made it a more serious
offense.""I quit drinking for three years. I relapsed," said Houk in court. "This
action shows I can’t drink.""I apologize."Mayberry sentenced Houk to two years of
community control, including 60 days of electronic home monitoring.He also must enter the intensive
supervision program.