So much for a happy birthday for William Beckerman.
A Superior Court Judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison for burning down his West Hartford house in Feb. 2009.
Beckerman, who turned 79 Tuesday, was found guilty of first-degree arson in March.
Heavy fire poured from the basement of Beckerman's home at 27 The Crossways on the afternoon of Feb. 11, 2009. During the trial, investigators said they found a lot of evidence pointing to arson, including gasoline and paper spread through the basement. Some of the paper had been stuck into the gas tank of a lawn mower, according to the Hartford Courant.
Judge Thomas O'Keefe, Jr. told Beckerman he doesn't offer birthday discounts. O'Keefe also ordered Beckerman to pay a $40,000 fine.
