Little Falls man going to prison for at least 8 years after setting four fires
By
By PAT BAILEY
Story Created:
Aug 12, 2010 at 1:04 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Aug 12, 2010 at 1:04 PM EDT
HERKIMER, N.Y. (WKTV) - Daniel Simonds of Little Falls says drugs and alcohol destroyed his life, and that is what led him to set fires and steal. Simonds pled guilty to setting four fires, along with a criminal mischief charge for the damage left behind from those fires and for burglary after stealing cash from an elderly woman he knew.
Simonds was sentenced to eight to 12 years in prison with five years supervision once he is released.
Simonds had tears in his eyes Thursday morning as he was sentenced and led away from court. He told Judge Patrick Kirk "I apologize for everything I have done." He showed up in Herkimer County Court Thursday, on his own with an ankle bracelet. Judge Kirk allowed Simonds to see his family for the two days prior to Thursdays' sentencing. Simonds missed the birth of his second child because he was serving time in the Herkimer County Jail.
Since Simonds has dealt with previous problems pertaining to drugs and alcohol, Judge Kirk urged him to take advantage of programs in prison to help him with those problems so when he gets out he can turn things around.
"He indicated he had done (crimes) under the influence of drugs and alcohol which are not a defense, just an excuse." said Herkimer County District Attorney John Crandall.
On top of the prison sentence, Simonds will be forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars in restitution to the places he burned, Crandall said.
Most Popular