Ohio man pleads guilty to starting fire in grocery with ‘molotov cocktail’ while co-defendant recorded Snapchat video

A Cincinnati-area man pleaded guilty earlier this week to creating a fire with what appeared to be a Molotov cocktail in a Spring Grove Village grocery store.

Donald Donatelli, a 28 year-old from Batavia, Ohio, pleaded guilty to “causing malicious damage and destruction of a building in interstate commerce,” according to a press release from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).

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The DOJ press release said Donatelli “approached the front glass doors of the grocery store and had a bottle of gasoline with a rag inside. He lit the rag and threw the bottle inside the front doors while the co-defendant filmed a Snapchat video of the crime.”

A federal grand jury indicted Donatelli and his co-defendant, 35 year-old Angela Schweitzer, in April. Charges are pending for her. As part of his plea deal, Donatelli is recommended to serve 66 months in prison.

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