Man Sentenced For Part In Burning Down Worcester Home

WORCESTER, MA—A man was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to his part in burning a home in Worcester on New Year's Day, 2015.

Kevin Crozier was sentenced to 6 years to 6 years and a day in state prison, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.

Crozier, 31, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit arson and arson of a dwelling in the burning of a single-family home at 11 Dixfield Road. Two co-defendants, Scott Phelan and Lionel Bermudez, have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing in Superior Court.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Hodgens recommended a sentence of 12 to 15 years in state prison, while defense attorney Kevin Larson recommended that Crozier be released because he has already spent more than three years in jail since his arrest for the crimes.

A Worcester police investigation uncovered that Crozier, Phelan and Bermudez agreed to burn down the home where Crozier lived with his girlfriend, Sabrina Hatheway. Hodgens said that Crozier told Phelan and Bermudez that he wanted the house burned down for the insurance money. Crozier promised $1,000 to the one who set the fire, Hodgens said.

The house was not insured and the money was never paid, Hodgens told the court.

Hatheway has been missing since Dec. 21, 2014. The missing person case remains under investigation.