Altoona man sentenced to 2 to 7 years in arson

Haigh takes plea deal as case was set to begin trial

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- A city man who set a chair on fire inside his home pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony aggravated arson and was sentenced to two to seven years' incarceration on what was set to be the first day of his jury trial.

Martin P. Haigh I, 44, also pleaded guilty to a single felony count of endangering the welfare of children and single misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and obstructing justice in exchange for the state prison sentence.

Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Mays told Judge Jackie Atherton Bernard that he was willing to extend the offer in the case after meeting with the victims, who said they just wanted Haigh "to get help."

Mays acknowledged the "facts in the case show a considerable and grave amount of recklessness" and, although the victims did not wish to see Haigh serve additional jail time, they were informed of resources that would be available to him in state prison that would not be accessible elsewhere.

The plea would also satisfy a Gagnon II hearing in a March 2021 case against Haigh, Mays said.

In that case, Haigh pleaded no contest in May 2022 to felony and misdemeanor counts involving corruption of minors and indecent assault and was subsequently sentenced to seven years' probation. He then violated the conditions of his probation in late 2024, online court documents show, and was awaiting resentencing.

The plea "would allow (Haigh) to be released from the jail on all his matters in the county," Mays said.

Defense attorney Mark Zearfaus told Bernard that Haigh was "sorry that this happened" and "was really depressed and drunk that night."

"He's just ready to get this behind him," Zearfaus said.

Haigh, who appeared alongside Zearfaus, offered no further comment.

Before handing down Haigh's sentence, Bernard said the incident appeared to be "more of a mental health event that needs to be addressed."

"The goal with having you at the SCI not only ensures community safety but also your rehabilitation," Bernard said. "I want you to take this sentence as an opportunity to reflect on yourself and what changes you need to make."

Bernard also ordered Haigh to pay $650 in fines, undergo drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, complete a cognitive behavioral therapy course and participate in any available arson rehabilitation programs. All other charges against Haigh were then withdrawn and dismissed.

Haigh's three-day jury trial, which was scheduled to begin Tuesday afternoon, was canceled.

In the corruption of minors case, Bernard resentenced Haigh to two to seven years' incarceration in a state correctional institution, with the sentence to run concurrently and co-terminously with his aggravated arson sentence. Bernard then reminded Haigh of his requirement to register as a Tier II sex offender.

The arson case was filed against Haigh in March of this year after Altoona police were dispatched to a residence along the 1200 block of 15th Avenue to assist with a house fire. Officers saw Haigh standing in the doorway of the home and trying to prevent firefighters from entering.

A witness told officers she saw Haigh standing over a burning chair and singing "Burning Down the House" by the Talking Heads.

When Haigh eventually exited the residence, he told officers he "was having a bad day" and tried to put the chair inside the residence's fireplace "because it was dirty." The chair was too big to fit through the fireplace opening and it fell out, so he extinguished it, the report states.

Firefighters reported significant damage to the home's living room and determined that the chair had been intentionally set on fire.

Haigh's March 2021 case was filed after an investigation into allegations that he had inappropriate contact with a 12-year-old victim. In that case, the victim told her mother that she was visiting Haigh's home in July 2019 when he pressured her to expose her chest. When she relented, he groped her and made inappropriate comments.

Police said the girl also accused Haigh of pushing himself against her before she fled to a bedroom and locked the door while hearing Haigh scream apologies and acknowledge that he shouldn't have touched her.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.