BROOKVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- A firefighter was sentenced to six to 15 years in prison for his role in a series of arsons.
Ryan Rishell, 25, of Brookville, was convicted in May of 11 of 27 charges he faced in connection with fires set at abandoned or vacant buildings in 2002 and 2003. All the fires were near the small borough of Brookville, about 70 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
In addition to the prison sentence, Rishell on Wednesday was placed on probation for 15 years, ordered to complete 4,000 hours of community service and pay court costs, among other fees.
Rishell had denied any wrongdoing. Authorities claimed he and other firefighters set the blazes in vacant buildings for excitement.
``You came close to seriously hurting someone. You may have very well been charged with homicide had that been the case. I find it an aggravating factor that you are not remorseful and the fact that you were involved in all of these,'' Judge John Foradora said.
Also, Dustin Buzard, 21, of Corsica, was sentenced to three to eight years in prison on charges of criminal conspiracy related to the fires.
