A former firefighter is going to prison for a long time for torching a number of businesses and causing more than $3 million in damage and hurting two other firefighters.
In a year-and-a-half period, the volunteer firefighter went on a spree of fire starting, hitting seven different spots in Lackawanna County and devastating many people along the way.
Tuesday a judge sent him away to prison for 10 to 20 years.
In all, Ben Christensen caused $3.1 million in damage in the seven fires he started. Many of them were massive fires at landmark businesses.
Christensen was a firefighter at Whites Crossing Volunteer Fire Company.
The fires are hard to forget. Mermelstein's Marketplace near Carbondale turned into a ball of flames in September, 2007. Numerous stores and businesses burned.
Fiorelli's Catering in Peckville was torched in March, 2008. It was the second arson to wreck the business.
Highway Auto Parts in Eynon burned not long after that.
The three were just part of a spree through Lackawanna County's up valley that will now land Christensen in prison for 10 to 20 years.
"From February of 2007 and April of 2008, it was a very unsettling and terrifying time for especially the large business owners of Lackawanna County," said Assistant District Attorney Corey Kolcharno.
Christensen pleaded no contest in September to the charges.
The defense said Christensen was abused as a child.
The judge said he took that into account, but with $3 million in fire damage, he said the sentence must be severe.
"There are victims right there that have been waiting for this day for close to three years," Kolcharno added.
The Saxe family is among them. Paula and Melissa Saxe testified at sentencing. Husband and dad William Saxe had a heart attack while battling the fire at Fiorelli's.
"It was very, very difficult for us. I didn't think I'd make it through. My husband is still sick. He still has problems because of that night," said Paula Saxe.
It makes it even harder for the Saxes that the fires were set by another volunteer firefighter.
"My husband took great pride in what he did. He helped anyone in the community whether it was fighting fire or anyone needed help he was always there and now he can't do that," Saxe added.
"When I spoke to the judge I just let him know how tough it was for my dad and how much he can't do, but it could have been any of the firefighters," said Melissa Saxe.
Ben Christensen had some help with two of the fires.
Robert Woolaver was already sentenced to four to 16 years in state prison after pleading guilty.
Christensen got 10 to 20 and he was ordered to pay $3 million in restitution.
The business owners aren't expecting that to happen.
In a year-and-a-half period, the volunteer firefighter went on a spree of fire starting, hitting seven different spots in Lackawanna County and devastating many people along the way.
Tuesday a judge sent him away to prison for 10 to 20 years.
In all, Ben Christensen caused $3.1 million in damage in the seven fires he started. Many of them were massive fires at landmark businesses.
Christensen was a firefighter at Whites Crossing Volunteer Fire Company.
The fires are hard to forget. Mermelstein's Marketplace near Carbondale turned into a ball of flames in September, 2007. Numerous stores and businesses burned.
Fiorelli's Catering in Peckville was torched in March, 2008. It was the second arson to wreck the business.
Highway Auto Parts in Eynon burned not long after that.
The three were just part of a spree through Lackawanna County's up valley that will now land Christensen in prison for 10 to 20 years.
"From February of 2007 and April of 2008, it was a very unsettling and terrifying time for especially the large business owners of Lackawanna County," said Assistant District Attorney Corey Kolcharno.
Christensen pleaded no contest in September to the charges.
The defense said Christensen was abused as a child.
The judge said he took that into account, but with $3 million in fire damage, he said the sentence must be severe.
"There are victims right there that have been waiting for this day for close to three years," Kolcharno added.
The Saxe family is among them. Paula and Melissa Saxe testified at sentencing. Husband and dad William Saxe had a heart attack while battling the fire at Fiorelli's.
"It was very, very difficult for us. I didn't think I'd make it through. My husband is still sick. He still has problems because of that night," said Paula Saxe.
It makes it even harder for the Saxes that the fires were set by another volunteer firefighter.
"My husband took great pride in what he did. He helped anyone in the community whether it was fighting fire or anyone needed help he was always there and now he can't do that," Saxe added.
"When I spoke to the judge I just let him know how tough it was for my dad and how much he can't do, but it could have been any of the firefighters," said Melissa Saxe.
Ben Christensen had some help with two of the fires.
Robert Woolaver was already sentenced to four to 16 years in state prison after pleading guilty.
Christensen got 10 to 20 and he was ordered to pay $3 million in restitution.
The business owners aren't expecting that to happen.
