From the Altoona Mirror

BEDFORD — The Lewistown man accused of trying to set an occupied Bedford County home on fire in a murder-for-hire plot accepted a plea deal in Bedford County Court on Tuesday.

Zachery Sellers, 36, will plead guilty to one felony count of risking catastrophe in exchange for two to five years’ incarceration, eligibility in the state drug treatment program and all other charges against him being dismissed.

Sellers was originally facing six criminal attempt — criminal homicide charges, 12 felony counts of aggravated arson, six felony counts each of arson and criminal attempt — aggravated assault, a single felony count of arson endangering property and a single misdemeanor count of criminal mischief.

The charges were brought against Sellers in December 2023 after state police at Bedford investigated an Oct. 28, 2023, fire in Napier Township, Bedford County. Sellers told officers that his co-defendant, Heather Ann Dibert, 45, had hired him to burn down the home occupied by her estranged wife and family members, including three juveniles.

Sellers testified against Dibert during her criminal jury trial in late September. She was found guilty of multiple charges, including criminal solicitation — criminal homicide.

Sellers is being held at the Bedford County Correctional Facility on $1 million bail. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 7.

Dibert’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 12.