ITHACA, MI -- The man responsible for the March 2 fire that burned down two buildings and damaged another in Alma's historic district was sentenced Tuesday to at least one-and-a-half years in prison.
In addition to the sentence of 18 months to five years in prison handed down to him Tuesday, Feb. 21, Michael Allen Young also faces a possible restitution payment of more than $300,000 for the damage he caused, said Gratiot County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Shephard.
That number could change, though, based on final estimates of the damage and what the court decides is appropriate, Shephard said.
Young's attorney, Dwight Carpenter, said money was his client's motivation for committing the arson.
"He had no income, he wasn't working, he didn't really have assets, he sold everything he owned and, rather than taking it down another avenue, he burned everything down to collect insurance," Carpenter said.
At the time of the March 2 fire, Young was living in a building at 319 E. Superior, which was later burned out. Beneath his residence was a small gym that he operated, Carpenter said.
An adjacent building was also destroyed by the fire. A third building, though smaller and vacant, was damaged.
At least three businesses were displaced as a result of the arson.
In his 40 years of practicing law, Carpenter said, he's never dealt with an arson that put so many lives at risk. He surmised that's the reason the judge gave Young prison rather than jail, as the man had put firefighters and others at risk.
Young was sentenced on the charges of fourth degree arson of personal property more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 and attempted third degree arson of a building, structure or contents, Shephard said.
He additionally faced charges of third degree arson, fraudulent insurance acts and arson of insured property, but those were dropped in a plea deal.