04/04/08 — LINESVILLE — A Hartstown man has been charged with arson in connection with fires destroying Conneaut Lake Park’s historic Dreamland Ballroom and the Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church earlier this year, causing more than $1.5 million in damage.

Nickolas Dean Pope, 19, of 9740 Linesville Road, Hartstown, was arraigned late Friday afternoon on Pennsylvania State Police charges of two counts each of arson endangering persons, arson endangering property, burglary and criminal trespass.

Authorities allege Pope burned the Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church on Jan. 13, causing an estimated $180,000 in damages to the more than 160-year-old building; and the Dreamland Ballroom on Feb. 1, causing an estimated $1.5 million in damages.

Pope’s arrest was the result of a joint investigation between Pennsylvania State Police and agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.

The news that a suspect was in custody was bittersweet for Conneaut Lake Park officials.

George Deshner, general manager of the park, said he’s relieved an arrest was made in the Dreamland Ballroom fire, but saddened as well. “I’m happy they determined what happened and there’s a suspect in custody,” he said. “At the same time, it leaves you with a horrible, sick feeling inside that these things happen.”

“It took a lot of cooperation of a lot of people to make this happen,” he continued. “There are a lot of people to thank in this investigation.”

Jack Moyers, chairman of the board of Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park, which owns the amusement park, agreed with Deshner’s assessment.

“We’re appreciative of all the people involved in the investigation,” Moyers said. “They handled it in a very expedient manner. I’m glad they were able to find a suspect.

“It (the arrest) takes away the question of how it happened, but not why,” Moyers said.

Both Deshner and Moyers said they knew the investigation into the fire was ongoing, but they both were unaware it was arson until Friday’s arrest. Fire debris from Dreamland Ballroom hasn’t been removed as yet, Deshner said. That work is expected to be completed by the middle of May, he said.

Attempts to contact the Rev. Bryan Powell of Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church were unsuccessful. The small congregation with less than 50 members has been holding services at the Harmonsburg Community Building since the fire in January.

“It was a lot of field work (by authorities),” said Trooper Dana Beckwith, a state police fire marshal, who would offer no details of how authorities were led to Pope.

“His name kept surfacing,” Beckwith said, referring to the process of tracking down leads in the case. “Information (as it developed) implicated him.”

Pope was placed under arrest Friday, following an interview at the state police barracks in Vernon Township.

Beckwith declined to comment if there were any additional suspects in the case.

“We’re grateful to the ATF for their assistance,” Beckwith said. “They were an integral part of the investigation.”

Pope didn’t say anything as he was taken into the courtroom of Magisterial District Judge Rita Marwood of Linesville for arraignment.

Although several of Pope’s family members attempted to block a Tribune photographer and reporter from taking pictures of Pope entering the building, family members apologized for their actions following the hearing. Dressed in a black T-shirt and black jeans, Pope was in handcuffs and legcuffs as he was taken into the building.

Pope said little at his arraignment before Marwood other than answering basic questions. He told Marwood he had dropped out of Linesville High School after 11th grade and had been working at Molded Fiber Glass Co. in Linesville since last August.

Pope told Marwood he had no prior record and had no history of drug, alcohol or mental health problems.

When asked by a reporter, police confirmed Pope is not a fireman.

On Thursday, two former volunteer firemen entered guilty pleas in Crawford County Court to nine counts of arson each in connection with a series of fires in the Saegertown area between August and December 2007.

If convicted on all charges, Pope faces a maximum 110 years in jail and $200,000 in fines. Marwood set bond Pope’s bond at $100,000; he was committed to Crawford County jail in Saegertown.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled before Marwood on April 11.



Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.