Arsonist Facing Foreclosure Takes Plea Deal; Admits Torching Home For Insurance Cash

In Suffield, Connecticut, The Journal Inquirer reports:

• A Suffield arsonist with dozens of prior felony convictions was sentenced Thursday to seven years in prison for torching his house for the insurance money. Michael Paul Schook had in October rejected a plea offer, but with a trial looming, he accepted the deal that also requires him to serve eight years of special parole when he's released from prison.

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• [P]olice say an ex-convict who had spent time in prison with Schook and was living with the family told authorities that Schook asked him how to set a fire that wouldn't look suspicious. That man said Schook told him he had financial difficulties, and police say a credit check revealed the house was in foreclosure, Schook's car was being repossessed, and he owed thousands to credit card companies.

For more, see Suffield man gets 7 years for burning home for insurance money.

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