LISBON — A man accused of attempted murder in a baseball bat attack against a woman earlier this summer entered a not guilty plea during his recent arraignment in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, with a jury trial set for Sept. 8.

Fredrick L. Harroff, 66, Columbiana Lisbon Road, Columbiana, appeared in the custody of deputy sheriffs for the arraignment before Judge Scott Washam. Harroff was declared indigent, with defense attorney Robert Bricker assigned to defend him. He remains jailed under a $500,000 cash or surety bond.

The state was represented by county Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Weeda, with attorney Christopher Maruca in attendance representing the alleged victim in the case.

Harroff was originally charged in county Municipal Court with just felonious assault, but the grand jury issued charges of first-degree felony attempted murder, first-degree felony aggravated arson, first-degree felony kidnapping, second-degree felonies of aggravated arson and two counts of felonious assault and fourth-degree felony strangulation.

According to an affidavit filed in county Municipal Court, Harroff allegedly repeatedly attacked the woman with a heavy wooden baseball bat over her head and body while she was laying in bed, causing severe physical harm on June 2 in Fairfield Township.

One of the aggravated arson charges dealt with trying to harm the woman and the other dealt with trying to harm the property.

“Based on evidence we have, we believe he tried to burn the place down,” county Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino said when the indictment was issued.

The State Fire Marshal was involved in the investigation into the fire. All the assault charges and the kidnapping charge stemmed from the attack against the woman.

The first-degree felony charges all carry possible penalties of three to 11 years and the second-degree felonies carry possibly penalties of two to eight years.

A final status hearing was set for 1 p.m. Aug. 27.