Man sentenced to 5 years probation for lighting apartment on fire

He won't, however, spend anymore time in jail. Judge David Swartz sentenced the 22-year-old Saline man Thursday in the Washtenaw County Trial Court to the probation, fines and 166 days time served in jail.

"This experience has changed my life," Morphew told the judge.

In March, Morphew was charged with arson in a dwelling for trying to burn down his apartment building by starting a fire with his stove.

In exchange for his no contest plea in July, a charge of arson of personal property between $1,000 and $20,000 and a charge of possession or sale of a switchblade were dropped. Morphew will pay $5,272.32 in restitution.

According to past AnnArbor.com reports, on March 7 Morphew called Ann Arbor police and reported there was going to be a fire at his apartment. Ann Arbor officials contacted Saline police, who responded to the 200 block of Clark Street in Saline and found thick smoke coming from the building.

All four burners on the stove had been lit and papers were burning on top of them, according to police. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze.