Lengthy Prison Term for Southampton Man Found Guilty of Arson

An Upper Southampton man who was found guilty of arson last month has been sentenced.

Joseph Glass, 38, received a sentence of 10 to 24 years in state prison. He was also ordered to pay $198.916.32 in restitution, according to court documents.

after authorities said he set a fire in the basement of his home, while his wife and kids were upstairs, and then quietly left.

At trial, witnesses testified the fire started following an argument between Glass and his then wife.  A portion of the heated exchange that occurred earlier the day of the fire was detailed in court when Defense Attorney Sarah Webster played a recording of a 9-1-1 call Glass made, requesting the police come to his home.

Glass' wife and children were not hurt in the fire, but the family’s Charlotte Avenue home was extensively damaged.  Court testimony revealed that two firefighters were disoriented while fighting the Dec. 20, 2009 blaze and needed to seek medical treatment.

Bucks County Judge Diane Gibbons, who presided over , handed down the sentence on Thursday.

According to a report in the Bucks County Courier Times, Gibbons admonished Glass during a lengthy speech before imposing a prison term that greatly exceeded the 22 to 48 months suggested by sentencing guidelines.

Deputy District Attorney Robert Salzer said there were a lot of victims to Glass’ crimes, most notably his own family.

“I think given the totality the judge thought [the sentence] was warranted,” he said.  

Salzer said Glass’ behavior was atrocious, in that he repeatedly lied to law enforcement regarding the events surrounding the fire. 

“Based on the jury’s verdict, they concluded he had lied to them as well,” he said. “There is an even more severe price to be paid, I think, when you take the stand and lie.”