Man gets 7-14 years in prison for causing blast

The man was responsible for an explosion that destroyed nine homes.

STAFF REPORT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A man who pleaded guilty to arson in an explosion that leveled a city neighborhood was sentenced to prison.

Patrick Henry, 31, who had been accused of deliberately causing a natural-gas explosion that destroyed nine homes in November 2006, was sentenced in Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas to seven to 14 years in prison followed by six years of probation.

He must also pay more than $750,000 in restitution for damages, said assistant district attorney Larry Keith.

Henry pleaded guilty in November to one count of felony arson right before his trial was to start. He was facing 47 counts of arson, one count of causing a catastrophe, 33 counts of criminal mischief, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of simple assault and eight counts of reckless endangering.

A couple in their early 20s, Jared and Sophie Baker of New Castle, were hurt in the blast. Sophie Baker spent several months recovering from burns. They did not appear in court at the sentencing, said Keith.

“They didn’t show up and didn’t want anything from him,” Keith said.

The Bakers were hurt in the blast while they were on their way to check on Henry, who was their friend and a co-worker of Jared Baker’s.

The Bakers have an unlisted phone number.

Keith said more than 50 blast victims were notified of the sentencing, but only an aunt of Jared Baker’s came, he said.

Keith said the court ordered psychiatric treatment for Henry while he’s in prison, and again when he’s on probation. Authorities have said he was trying to commit suicide when he blew up the neighborhood.

He will be incarcerated in a unit “commensurate to his needs” and will undergo intensive psychiatric treatment, Keith said.