BEMIDJI-A Bemidji man who intentionally set fire to a house about five miles north of the city was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison Wednesday, April 18.
Damian Patrick Joseph Smith, 21, pleaded guilty to first-degree arson March 16. He has been incarcerated since Jan. 1, when the Bemidji Fire Department responded to the fire.
According to a criminal complaint, firefighters responded to the blaze at the 700 block of Sunset Way at about about 10:22 p.m. When they arrived, officials found Smith and both of the home's residents in the garage.
Smith tried to go back into the house, prompting Beltrami County deputies to restrain him, the complaint said. He was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.
While at the hospital, Smith admitted that, while he was a guest in the house he became offended by something one of the homeowners said and set the fire.
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After discovering the fire, one of the homeowners tried to put it out, but Smith would not let him. It took firefighters about four hours to put out the blaze, which caused "moderate" damage to the home.
Smith, who received credit for the 110 days he spent in the Beltrami County Jail, must serve two-thirds of his sentence before he is eligible for supervised release.
