Michael Graziano still doesn’t know why he set a mattress on fire near an Easton apartment building.
He acknowledged Friday his crime is “unexplainable” but said he was suicidal, mentally ill and abusing drugs at the time.
“I did not mean any harm to anyone or anything,” he told Northampton County Judge Paula Roscioli.
Whether he meant harm or not, his decision put peoples’ lives in danger, she said. The judge sentenced him to one to two years in Northampton County Prison.
“You’re lucky to still be alive,” she said, later adding, “You’re lucky that nobody was injured here. If someone were injured you would definitely be looking at state prison.”
Graziano pleaded no contest to risking a catastrophe for the fire set around 10 a.m. June 21 in the 200 block of Church Street in Easton. He was also charged with setting a trashcan on fire the next day in Downtown Easton, but that charge was dropped as part of a plea deal. He had heroin on him when he was arrested but did not plead to any drug charges.
He was a person of interest in two other Easton fires within that two-day period but ultimately not charged.
Graziano said he’s been reflecting for the past eight months on what happened and participated in parenting, anger management and coping classes while in prison.
“I am very sorry for what happened. I believe everything happens for a reason. My reason was to evaluate myself and bring me closer to God,” he said.
“I just wanted to say I love him and I wish him well,” his wife, Deb Worman told the judge. Michael Graziano Jr. also asked the judge for a merciful sentence.
The judge said she’s worried about the likelihood of his setting another fire when he’s released.
“Since he can’t explain why he did it, he could easily do it again,” said Assistant District Attorney John Obrecht.
His prognosis for community supervision is poor and his risk assessment for violent behavior is high, the judge said.
At least he took the prison classes and accepted responsibility for his crimes at the earliest opportunity, she said.
She put him on probation for five years when his parole expires. He must keep taking mental health medications and stay off drugs and alcohol if he wants to remain out of prison.
Easton arsonist: ‘I deal with … very bad mental issues’
If he slips up again, she said she’ll revoke the probation and sentence him to two and a half to five years in state prison.
“It’s clear to me that a lot of your criminal conduct is related to your mental health issues,” Roscioli said. “However, it doesn’t excuse your behavior and it doesn’t relieve me of the responsibility to impose a sentence that will help protect the community so you don’t do something like this again.”
By pleading no contest Graziano did not admit he put anyone in danger, but admitted prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him of the charge. The plea is treated the same as a guilty plea for sentencing purposes.
Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
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