A Vancouver man who set fire to a former neighbor’s house and fence in July was sentenced Friday in Clark County Superior Court to 270 days in jail.
Aaron L. Chambers, 34, previously entered a guilty plea to second-degree arson in connection with the July 22 incident at a home in the Image neighborhood.
Court records say Chambers drove to the home in the 3000 block of Northeast 133rd Court, left his vehicle with some sort of bottle in hand, splashed a liquid on the fence and house, then set it on fire.
The resident, Stephanie James, and her young children and mother, were home at the time. No one was injured, but the fire did about $2,155 in damage, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Chambers was caught on the home’s surveillance video setting the fire, court records said.
During sentencing, James, her mother and her husband read statements to the court detailing how Chambers repeatedly destroyed their property and terrorized the family. All of them said they barely know Chambers and didn’t understand why he targeted them.
Chambers reportedly climbed onto the family’s roof in October and cut their communication lines, James said during the hearing. The prosecution said he pleaded guilty to malicious mischief in District Court in that case.
The defense said Chambers suffers from mental health issues, and Chambers told the judge he hopes to get it under control.
Deputy Prosecutor Patrick Robinson recommended that Chambers serve 270 days in jail. Chambers’ defense attorney, Diane Grecco, asked that her client serve 180 days and be screened for the work release program.
Judge Robert Lewis followed the prosecution’s recommendation. Chambers is not to have contact with the family for 10 years. He was given credit for eight days in custody.
