CLEARFIELD – A Woodland man who set his home on fire because he said it was haunted was sentenced to state prison in Clearfield County Court.
Robert Glenn Sharrer, 29, pleaded guilty to arson, risking a catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person. He was sentenced by Clearfield County President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman to two to five years in state prison. He was fined $3 plus costs and must pay restitution of $177,000.
Prior to sentencing his attorney, Curtis Irwin explained that Sharrer wasn’t trying to hurt anyone and he is bi-polar. Sharrer also told the judge he has mental health issues. He was taking shots because he couldn’t remember to take his pills, but the shots became too expensive. Crying, he apologized, saying he was “truly sorry” and he was taking responsibility for his actions. He added that he was not thinking clearly at the time.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police investigated a fire that occurred at Sharrer’s residence at 1423 Pinetop Rd. in Bradford Township. The residence was a total loss.
A witness told police that he was nearby when he saw the house on fire. He immediately went to the residence where he saw Sharrer outside. Sharrer told him he lit the house on fire because “it’s haunted.” When he was asked by fire personnel if there were any flammable items inside he replied “yeah . . . gas . . . because I put it there.” He asked the witness, “So how much time am I gonna get for this?” indicating the fire.
Sharrer’s girlfriend, who was also living at the residence, told police when she arrived, she found Sharrer sitting on the tailgate of his truck. She asked what happened and he told her “I lit the house on fire. It looks a lot better now.” As she was walking away, she heard him say, “It was haunted anyways.”
The investigation revealed that the cause of the fire was an introduction of direct flame. A presence of an ignitable liquid was found in the basement of the home and within the remains of a cardboard box.