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PROVO, Utah (AP) -- A Hurricane Katrina evacuee who was convicted of setting fire to his government-funded apartment has been sentenced to five years to life in prison.
Herbert Landry apologized for the incident during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday in 4th District Court, but he maintained his innocence.
"I want to put this behind me and go back to my family," he said about his wife and children who are living in Texas.
In August, the 46-year-old was found guilty of first-degree aggravated arson.
Landry, a Louisiana native, had received an eviction notice to have his possessions removed by Feb. 26, the day of the fire, prosecutors said.
Investigators said a burn pattern on the apartment floor indicated an ignitable liquid had been poured there and set ablaze.
Landry didn't dispute that alcohol had spilled, but he said it wasn't intentional and had happened during a going-away party Feb. 25. He said he was watching television at a motel the next day when he learned about the fire.
Landry's attorney, Gunda Jarvis, asked Judge Steven Hansen during the sentencing hearing to show leniency.
"To me, logically, it doesn't make sense that he would have done this," he said. "Had he done this, we would have reached a resolution on this case."
But prosecutor Alex Ludlow said Landry is guilty.
"I think that the defendant has shown that he is of parasitic nature," he said. "I don't think he takes responsibility for himself."
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Information from: The Daily Herald, http://www.heraldextra.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
