Pocono News Section

Volunteer Firefighter Sentenced for Arson in Lackawanna County

Volunteer Firefighter Sentenced for Arson in Lackawanna County - Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 5:44PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Tuesday, Nov 17, 2009 @ 05:44pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - A former volunteer firefighter is going to prison after a series of arsons in Lackawanna County. Benjamin Christensen did not apologize as he was sentenced Tuesday morning. Prosecutors say he destroyed several landmark businesses.

Christensen was sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison and then another 20 years probation. He was also ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution.

Some of the fires prosecutors say he had a role in were fires at Jonal's Lawn & Garden Center in Greenfield Township, Highway Auto Parts in Eynon and a blaze that destroyed seven businesses in Mermelstein's Marketplace in Carbondale Township. The string of fires lasted from February 2007 until April 2008.

Christensen pleaded no contest to his role in the arsons earlier this year. Prosecutors say this case is disturbing because the Carbondale man was also a volunteer.

"He loved to be a firefighter but yet he went ahead and put all these firefighters at risk, injuring two of them, almost killing one of them," assistant district attorney Corey Kolcharno said.

The family of that firefighter was in court Tuesday. WIlliam Saxe of Peckville suffered a heart attack responding to one of the calls.

"It was very, very difficult for us. I didn't think I'd make it through today," Paula Saxe said. Paula is the firefighter's wife.

The Saxe family called Tuesday's sentence appropriate but they also say it doesn't change what happened.

"He (WIlliam) was a firefighter for over 20 years and it's just sad it was taken away from him by someone who was so selfish," Melissa Saxe said.

Before sentencing, Christensen did not apologize to any of his victims. His defense attorney says the arsons may have stemmed from psychological problems. She says Christensen was off his medication at the time and was also the victim of physical and sexual abuse.

Many of the businesses that were destroyed by fire have been rebuilt. Others are still in the process of bouncing back.

"All of these places were active and there was a lot of property and a lot of inventory," Kolcharno said.

For the Saxe family though, their loss was more than just property.

"We don't know from day-to-day what is going to happen with my husband. My husband is in and out of the hospital constantly," Paula Saxe said.

Besides the arson charges, Christensen was also sentenced on charges of indecent assault and providing alcohol to minors on Tuesday morning.