LISBON — A former Columbiana man sentenced to at least 39 years in prison for attempting to kill a woman with a baseball bat and then setting her home on fire filed an appeal Friday.

The appeal was filed with the Seventh District Court of Appeals for Frederick L. Harroff, 66, last known address Columbiana Lisbon Road, who entered a guilty plea in March to first-degree felonies of attempted murder, aggravated arson and kidnapping, second-degree felonies of aggravated arson and felonious assault and fourth-degree felony strangulation.

Another count of felonious assault was to be dismissed. The attack happened on June 2, 2025 when he repeatedly struck the woman with a heavy wooden baseball bat over her head and body while she was lying in bed, tried to choke her, detain her and then set the fire.

The sentence was nearly twice as much as what the prosecution recommended.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam sentenced Harroff to at least 39 years in prison, with a possible maximum sentence of 44 1/2 years in prison if the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections decides to keep him longer.

Washam issued a sentence of 11 years for the attempted murder, 10 years for the first-degree felony arson, five years for the second-degree felony arson, eight years for the felonious assault, five years for the kidnapping, all to be served consecutively or one after another, for the total of 39 years. The sentence for the strangulation was 12 months, but to be served at the same time as the other charges. He also designated him an arson offender for life required to register if he ever gets out of prison. Harroff received credit for 288 days served since his arrest and was advised of his right to appeal.

His defense attorney, T. Robert Bricker, filed the appeal, but asked for appellate counsel to be appointed.

An appeal was also filed Friday for Christopher J. Tarter, 32, Akron, who was sentenced recently to 12 months in prison and designated a Tier II sex offender for fourth-degree felonies of attempted compelling prostitution and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and fifth-degree felonies of importuning and possessing criminal tools. He was originally charged with third-degree felony compelling prostitution. A misdemeanor charge of engaging in prostitution as dismissed.

Tarter was accused of requesting sexual conduct for an agreed upon price of $220 from an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old female and her mother, then driving to Salem on June 2, 2025 for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession.

Bricker also filed the appeal for Tarter, and asked for appellate counsel to be appointed.