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Police: Man Torched His Own Home in Lackawanna County

Police: Man Torched His Own Home in Lackawanna County - Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 6:38PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 @ 06:38pm EST

SCOTT TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - A Lackawanna County man is behind bars tonight on arson charges. Prosecutors say 60-year-old Manfred Lennartz of Jermyn set fire to his own home to collect insurance money.

Right after his arraignment at the Lackawanna County courthouse, Lennartz said the fire was an accident and an act of God.

"I did not (set the fire). A tree fell on my power line and busted my grid and now they're trying to put the blame on me," Lennartz said.

Lennartz's home on Rushbrook Road in Scott Township went up in flames in late March. The home was set to be sold at a sheriff's sale the very next day.

"Throughout the course of the investigation, we have obtained records to show his financial situation was very grim," Assistant District Attorney Corey Kolcharno said.

Prosecutors say Lennartz used light combustables to start the blaze. A claim his lawyer denies.

"These are allegations and right now, he's going to deny all charges," defense attorney Stephen Turel said.

Prosecutors say they have neighbors who saw Lennartz leaving his home right before the fire broke out. In all, they say he could have gained up to $223,000 because of the fire.

"These are things that our office and law enforcement are just not going to tolerate if the evidence is there," Kolcharno said.

Lennartz is locked-up tonight on $25,000 bail.
 


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