The argument that a Lackawanna County man set fire to his own home to collect insurance money apparently lacks evidence. A judge Tuesday dropped charges of insurance fraud against the suspect.
Manfred Lennartz of Scott Township will go to trial for arson but after a two hour hearing Tuesday, a judge said there is not enough evidence to try him for setting the fire for insurance money.
Lennartz's lawyer said getting the insurance fraud charge dropped was a big victory and added the arson case is weak.
"They cannot tell us what causes the fire. I think it's consistent with accident as it is with arson," said attorney Paul Ackoury.
It was around 1 a.m. on March 23 when firefighters responded to Lennartz's home near Montdale, which was engulfed in flames. Investigators said the home was destroyed. While police maintain the blaze is arson, they still haven't been able to say for sure what was used to start the fire.
Still, prosecutors said they are confident in their arson case, partly because of the neighbors who lived near Lennartz who saw his car leaving the scene moments before the house went up in flames.
"We're moving forward with this case and if the evidence is there, as it was today, we believe we're going to have a strong case down the road," said Assistant District Attorney Corey Kolcharno.
Lennartz was arrested in August, accused of burning down his home to collect more than $200,000 in insurance money.
However, a judge just ruled that there's no evidence Lennartz actually filed a claim with the insurance company.
"That motivation just wasn't there," said Ackourey. "The house in question was up for foreclosure. My client had no financial interest in the house. If he collected on the insurance it would have went to the mortgage company."
Manfred Lennartz of Scott Township will go to trial for arson but after a two hour hearing Tuesday, a judge said there is not enough evidence to try him for setting the fire for insurance money.
Lennartz's lawyer said getting the insurance fraud charge dropped was a big victory and added the arson case is weak.
"They cannot tell us what causes the fire. I think it's consistent with accident as it is with arson," said attorney Paul Ackoury.
It was around 1 a.m. on March 23 when firefighters responded to Lennartz's home near Montdale, which was engulfed in flames. Investigators said the home was destroyed. While police maintain the blaze is arson, they still haven't been able to say for sure what was used to start the fire.
Still, prosecutors said they are confident in their arson case, partly because of the neighbors who lived near Lennartz who saw his car leaving the scene moments before the house went up in flames.
"We're moving forward with this case and if the evidence is there, as it was today, we believe we're going to have a strong case down the road," said Assistant District Attorney Corey Kolcharno.
Lennartz was arrested in August, accused of burning down his home to collect more than $200,000 in insurance money.
However, a judge just ruled that there's no evidence Lennartz actually filed a claim with the insurance company.
"That motivation just wasn't there," said Ackourey. "The house in question was up for foreclosure. My client had no financial interest in the house. If he collected on the insurance it would have went to the mortgage company."
