Former Volunteer Firefighter Gets 7 Years In Arson Case

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) -- A former volunteer firefighter has been sentenced to seven years in prison for setting fires.

The Cumberland Times-News (http://bit.ly/1D61ES8 ) reports that 24-year-old Patrick Kneisley of Cumberland was sentenced Friday in Allegany County Circuit Court. The judge suspended another 16 1/2 years under a plea deal reached in June.

Kneisley declined to speak during the hearing. His lawyer says the fires were not set out of malice.

Kneisley pleaded guilty last month to four counts, including second-degree arson, first- and second-degree malicious burning and malicious destruction of property. Each offense was for a separate incident.

He was originally charged with 24 counts.

Kneisely also must pay about $7,400 in restitution and submit to a psychological evaluation and counseling. He will be on supervised probation for five years after his release.
------
Information from: Cumberland (Md.) Times-News, http://www.times-news.com/timesnew.html

(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)