NEW CITY – Nathaniel Sommer and his son, Aaron, each were sentenced to probation in connection with the fire they started that destroyed the Evergreen Home for Adults in Spring Valley on March 23, 2021.
A resident of the facility, Oliver Hueston, and Spring Valley firefighter Jared Lloyd lost their lives in the blaze.
Nathaniel Sommer was sentenced to five years of probation while his son was sentenced to three years of probation.
District Attorney Thomas Walsh said the investigation revealed “several mitigating factors that would prove challenging for the prosecution at trial.”
He noted this was a first-of-its-kind case, “and the standard for conviction is ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ a standard that could impact a jury’s decision significantly.”
Walsh said one doubtful juror could lead to a hung jury.
The fire was started when the men used a torch and hot coals for a ritual religious cleaning.
“The findings paint a complex, nuanced picture, and I firmly believe that a resolution before trial was the most responsible route under these circumstances,” the DA said.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day, a retired police officer, said he disagrees with the sentences where they will not face any jail time “for their reckless and felonious behavior.”
He said the families of the victims “do not feel this is justice for their loved ones who perished in that fire.”
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