A former resident of Weissport, now listing an Albrightsville address, admitted in Carbon County court on Monday to setting a home on fire in East Penn Township earlier this year.

Daniel Crum, 49, pleaded guilty before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to one count each of reckless burning or exploding - places uninhabited or unoccupied structure, criminal mischief, both felony 3 counts and theft, a misdemeanor. In exchange for the plea, the district attorney’s office dropped 11 other charges.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by trooper Gary Fedor of the Lehighton barracks of the state police:

At 1:49 p.m. Jan. 28, Fedor was dispatched to the fire at a home on West Sunset Road, East Penn Township.

Heavy smoke and flames were coming from inside the two-story stone residence when Fedor arrived and emergency personnel were on scene. A blue Suzuki was parked about 50 to 60 yards east of the dwelling fire with the hood up and a man, later identified as Crum, leaning on the vehicle. The driver’s side door of the vehicle was open but the vehicle’s battery was dead. Police learned the owner of the vehicle did not given Crum permission to use her vehicle the day of this incident.

Crum said that he was visiting a friend up the road and that his vehicle died on the road in front of the dwelling. Fedor saw suspected marijuana in bags between the front seats of the car and a metal smoking device on the center console.

Crum said he could search his vehicle and police found the drugs. Located in the rear of the vehicle was a red Marlboro duffel bag with various older knickknack items, along with blank PNC bank checks belonging to a woman.

It was later learned that the woman was the last known occupant of the dwelling that was on fire.

Crum was taken into custody and transported to barracks for further questioning and processing. He said that he was friends with the woman, and that she probably did not know he had her checkbooks.

Trooper Jamison Sgarlat responded to the scene and determined that the fire was intentionally set in multiple locations inside the residence. A K-9 was used and indicated an accelerant on multiple locations in the residence.

Based on the interviews, it was determined that Crum did not have any associates who lived on West Sunset Road. Police said his vehicle was seen parked directly in front of the residence about 30 minutes before the fire was started.

Crum was not observed in his vehicle or anywhere around the vehicle at this time. Police said Crum was later seen trying to push his car away from the dwelling fire when witnesses first observed smoke coming from inside of the residence.

On Jan. 29, Crum was admitted to St. Luke’s Monroe Campus for a voluntary mental health commitment. Fedor said Crum told him he was in the residence before it caught fire to steal copper. Crum said there was no one else inside of the residence. A search warrant was obtained for Crum’s vehicle, and police discovered a half-empty container of Tiki fuel.

Police contacted the woman who owns the duffel bag and checks. She said she does not know Crum, and that she last lived in the residence about five years ago.

Crum told Nanovic, “I’m very sorry for what happened. I didn’t mean to do it.”

Nanovic sentenced him to serve six to one day less 24 months in prison with credit for 116 days already served. The jail term will be followed by one year probation. The same sentence was imposed on the mischief count, running concurrently. On the theft charge he was placed on probation for a year, consecutive to the other counts for a total of two years probation after his jail term expires.

He was also ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, supply a DNA sample, make total restitution to the two victims of $63.321. which includes over $57,000 in damages to the structure, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and probation.