A man who previously admitted his part in setting a fire in Weatherly that authorities said caused an estimated $1 million in damages was sentenced on Tuesday to a state prison term.

David Alzugaray-Lugones, 51, an inmate in the county prison with no permanent address, was sentenced by Judge Joseph J. Matika to serve 24 to 48 months in a state correctional institution.

Alzugaray-Lugones previously pleaded to one count of arson-danger of death or bodily injury, a felony.

He admitted his part in a fire that occurred around 2:40 a.m. on Aug. 6, 2016, at a residence at 234 Third St. Also charged in the incident were Felix Larrinaga-Sanchez, 45, and Roberto Torner, 48. No one was seriously hurt in the blaze. Property damage resulting from the blaze totaled more than $1 million. The house was vacant at the time, but the fire quickly spread to the surrounding homes, which were occupied.

Before imposing the sentence, which was at the very top of standard range of state sentencing guidelines, Matika heard testimony from the arresting police officer, Sgt. Michael C. Bogart, and two victims whose home was destroyed by the fire.

Bogart told the court he was “adamantly opposed to the plea deal.” He said he understands the court has to do what is called for in the plea deal, but asked that the sentence imposed be “extreme and harsh.”

The victims told the court that as the fire spread they had to save their then 3-year-old daughter, saying the “flames were a mere 3 feet away from her” in her bedroom. The girl’s mother said, “it still shakes me to think we were that close to losing our child.”

She added, “I came to the conclusion after three years that this nightmare will never end.” She added, “What was once my forever home is no more.”

Matika said he is bound by the plea entered by the defendant. He said the standard range of state sentencing guidelines call for a term of somewhere between 12 and 24 months up to 48 months maximum.

Matika said after listening to the statement of the defendant’s attorney and reading the presentence investigation report prepared by the adult probation office, he said, “I didn’t hear Mr. Lugones express any remorse” for what happened.

He said the defendant’s actions certainly caused danger for the lives of the victim and their daughter. But he added, “I am limited by state guidelines.”

Alzugaray-Lugones formerly owned the house, but sold it to his employers, Torner, and Liza Robles, in 2014. Torner collected $245,000 in an insurance payout from the blaze.

As a result of an investigation by borough police, Torner was charged for his part in the fire. Investigators said Torner was the “mastermind” in case.

After the being arrested for the Weatherly incident, he was charged in federal court and in February 2020, after a trial in which he was found guilty, he was sentenced on charges of drug trafficking, firearms and explosive charges, to serve 270 months in a federal prison.

The cases involving Torner and Sanchez, who testified for the prosecution at a preliminary hearing against Torner and is free on bail, are still pending.

It was also stated that Alzugaray-Lugones is facing a homicide charge in Luzerne County and is facing federal prosecution.

In addition to the prison term, Matika ordered the defendant to supply a DNA sample, pay restitution of $1,000, his share, pay court costs of about $1,000 and have no contact with the victims.

He was given credit for 659 days spent in prison to date on the charges.

In closing Matika told Bogart to air his complaints about the plea deal with the district attorney’s office.