Woman sentenced for fire
A Blakely woman will serve at least 22 months in state prison for setting fire in September 2011 to the multiunit home her mother had been evicted from and also furnishing alcohol to minors in a separate incident.
Susan McCauley, 27, could serve as much as seven years in prison under the sentencing issued by Lackawanna County Judge Vito P. Geroulo on Wednesday.
"This is a very serious crime," Judge Geroulo said. "The possibility of injury or worse to innocent bystanders ... the possibility of danger to first-responders - they're all very grave."
The day after Michael Lynn evicted her mother from the building at 722 Main St. in the borough's Peckville section, Ms. McCauley went to the home and set a fire in its basement on Sept. 14.
Ms. McCauley entered a no-contest plea to one count of arson and one count of furnishing alcohol to minors in October.
As part of her sentencing, Ms. McCauley must repay more than $120,000 in restitution to Erie Insurance Co. as well as $500 to Mr. Lynn for the deductible on the policy.
Mr. Lynn appeared in court Wednesday to seek more than $20,000 total in restitution because of expenses incurred as a result of the fire. The judge said a hearing would be scheduled within 10 days to determine if Mr. Lynn is legally entitled to that sum.
Contact the writer: domalley@timesshamrock.com, @domalleytt on Twitter