Albertville Arsonist Receives Five Month Jail Sentence

The man convicted of starting a spring fire that leveled a handful of storage units and caused thousands of dollars in property damage at will spend about five months in jail, according to a sentence handed down by Judge Stephen M. Halsey last week.

, entered a guilty plea in August to the charge of second-degree arson in connection to the March 16 fire, which drew fire crews from Albertville and St. Michael. He will serve 146 days in the Wright County Jail for the crime.

Hasley implemented a stay of imposition of up to 10 years, subject to probation. Valentine will be forced to pay a $500 fine, and will have to pay restitution for the more than $70,000 in damages he caused with the blaze.

Valentine will also have no use or possession of alcohol or non-prescription drugs, submit to random testing, provide DNA sample, complete cognitive skill training, obtain permission before leaving the state, have no use or possession of firearms or dangerous weapons, have no same or similar violations over that 10-year period. He will report to a field agent until 2021.

The building, which consisted mostly of sheet metal and no insulation to speak of, burned hot. Firefighters who weren't knocking down flames braved the heat to enter units and tried to rescue what was inside, including a small boat, furniture and toys. 

Officials almost immediately declared the area a crime scene.

The maximum sentence for second-degree arson is five years and/or $10,000 fine, according to Minnesota law.