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LISBON -- The defense attorney for John Arsuffi filed a motion to continue the pretrial hearing in Common Pleas Court, using the grounds Arsuffi had been badly injured in an explosion at his home earlier this week.
Arsuffi, 63, state Route 558, Leetonia, had been scheduled to appear Friday in court on nine charges of cruelty to companion animals, all fifth-degree felonies.
However, on Tuesday there was an explosion and fire at the home of Arsuffi who was transported immediately after firefighters from Leetonia and Columbiana arrived on the scene.
According to the motion filed by defense attorney Edward Hartwig, Arsuffi was admitted to the Akron Children's Hospital burn unit and is being treated for injuries. He is expected to remain hospitalized until further notice after receiving third-degree burns to 35 to 40 percent of his body, Hartwig wrote.
The motion included two exhibits -- a letter from a registered nurse dated Wednesday, which notes Arsuffi has been admitted and is receiving care at the hospital from Dr. Lou since Tuesday, and a copy of the newspaper article reporting the explosion and fire at Arsuffi's home.
Arsuffi had been scheduled to appear before Judge Megan Bickerton Friday afternoon. New dates have been selected for the case, including an interim status conference on Oct. 1. A jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 30.
Columbiana Fire Chief Rick Garrity said Friday the investigation of the cause of the explosion and fire at Arsuffi's home has been turned over to an investigator with the state fire marshal's office. No conclusion is yet available from that investigation.
The Columbiana County Drug Task Force removed 48 marijuana plants from the basement of the home after the fire was extinguished on Tuesday, according to county Sheriff Brian McLaughlin. Charges are pending.