Update: Arsonist asks for longer prison sentence

STEVENS POINT – The man who set his apartment building on fire and later turned himself in to police said a sentence given to him Friday wasn't long enough.

Portage County Circuit Judge Thomas Flugaur sentenced Roy Strait, 40, of Stevens Point to 15 years in prison and 10 years on supervision.

But according to a letter from Strait that Flugaur read in court, neither the sentence, nor the amount requested by Portage County Assistant District Attorney David Knaapen nor Strait's attorney, Richard Bender, was long enough. In the letter, Strait asked Fluguar for 25 years in prison, and five years on supervision.

Strait pleaded no contest to one count of arson of a building in June.

The Portage County Metropolitan Fire District was called at 12:50 a.m. March 4 to a building engulfed in flames. Two people were home at the time of the fire but escaped uninjured, fire officials said. Public safety workers later removed two cats from the burning building.

Strait turned himself in to police later that day when officers were moving victims of the fire into rooms at the Point Motel, according to a criminal complaint. Strait told officers he had his bags packed and was ready to return to prison. Strait later told police he set the building on fire because he suffered from depression and wanted to return to prison.

"Many men lead lives of quiet desperation," Bender said, quoting 19th century writer Henry David Thoreau. "My client is one of those men."

Strait told police he used a gas can, which police found at the scene, to pour gasoline all over the Monroe Street apartment before he ignited the fuel and left, according to the criminal complaint.

Strait told police he went to a casino March 4 and purchased a gas container and a lighter on his way back home. He rented a room at the Point Motel before returning to his apartment to set the fire.

When police asked why he did it, Strait told them he wanted to return to jail because he was alone, according to the complaint. He told police he knew people were home at the time he set the fire.

Knaapen said Friday that he didn't think Strait intended to kill the occupants of the apartment building, but said he also displayed an utter disregard for the lives of those living there. He put three people out of place to live, and destroyed the livelihood of the landlord who owned the building.

"He said that he didn't feel comfortable living in the community and wanted to go back to prison," Knaapen said. "But there are numerous other ways that wouldn't have caused the amount of damage or risk the potential loss of life."

Flugaur agreed a prison sentence was appropriate in order to get Strait the help he needs and to protect the public.

"This a very grave offense, and clearly outrageous behavior," Flugaur said.