The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - A municipal judge was arrested and accused of setting his lakefront home on fire after increasing insurance coverage on it and removing valuables, federal officials said.

A federal grand jury Thursday indicted Fairfield County Municipal Judge Donald McAuliffe, 58, on seven counts including arson, mail fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.

One count seeks the forfeiture of a $235,000 insurance claim payment, two real estate parcels and a vehicle. The charges follow a five-month investigation by state and federal officials, said U.S. Attorney Gregory Lockhart of the Southern District of Ohio.

The indictment said McAuliffe increased insurance coverage on his home along Buckeye Lake in Millersport, 25 miles east of Columbus, to more than $200,000 from $125,000 on Feb. 22, 2002. He then told someone to remove photographs, antiques and other valuables from the home.

The indictment said he that after he caused a natural gas line break in an unsuccessful attempt to start a fire, he and another person set a halogen lamp against a wall on March 2, 2002.

McAuliffe was being held in the Franklin County jail.

His home telephone number is not listed, and court offices were closed. An e-mail was sent to his attorney, whose voice mailbox was full.