Farner Larry Farner, 62, of Delphi, was convicted Dec. 10 of arson for burning a replica canal boat at the Wabash & Erie Canal Association Park in August. On Dec. 18, he was adjudicated a habitual criminal in a court order filed by Carroll Circuit Court Judge Donald Currie. Friday afternoon Farner was sentenced to execute 20 years in prison.

The convicted felon refused to speak at the sentencing hearing except to tell the judge he would appeal the conviction. He said he had no income but he owned a house with his wife. He also said he owned three vehicles which could be sold.

Currie immediately assigned Lafayette attorney Steven Knecht as public defender to represent Farner. He said the appointment was subject to reimbursement to the county. Currie noted in open court the local media reported Farner was provided a public defender for the criminal proceedings, which was not correct.

Farner was ordered to pay the Canal Association $5,519.27 in restitution. He will pay $300 per month while serving five years on probation after being released from prison.

Canal Association representative Dan McCain said Friday the experience of being a victim of a crime made Canal Association volunteers a stronger group. He said it rallied the community, people and groups to rebuild the boat as quickly as possible.

"We thought, let's just get on with it," he said. "The group believes that with the sentencing and the conclusion of the court case, we can put the ordeal out of our minds."

McCain said the boat was rebuilt within five weeks and although it is not quite finished, neighborhood children are once again playing at the park on the replica.

"The person who did this wasn't a kid," McCain said. "Kids are sometimes blamed initially for things like this and that wasn't the case this time."

McCain said he was aware the crime was possibly a personal grudge against him by someone who grew up in the same neighborhood McCain did. He said he regretted that connection to the crime.

"I'm sorry about that," he concluded. "I hope I don't ever project an image of not caring about people in the community."