Former firefighter sentenced to four years on arson charges

PORTLAND – A former call firefighter in Westbrook with a history of psychological problems since childhood has been sentenced to four years in prison after his guilty plea to four counts of arson.

Under a sentencing agreement worked out with prosecutors, Phillip Caron, 21, will receive counseling and be placed on probation for 12 years after his release. If he violates his probation conditions, he could face up to 12 more years behind bars.

Caron admitted Friday to setting fire last year to the garage of a home in Portland, a barn and part of a farmhouse in Gorham, a house construction site in Westbrook and the Sweetser Home in Saco, where he used to live.

No one was injured in the fires, which caused damage estimated at between $1 million and $1.5 million.

In a written statement, Kim and Gary Caron cited their son’s struggle with psychological issues and said they worked for years with various treatment providers to try to help him.

“Nonetheless, as parents, we recognize that Phil must be held responsible for his actions … . We maintain hope that upon his release, he will be able to get the treatment he needs,” the couple said.

Beginning at age 9, Caron engaged in destructive behavior, including fire starting, and had gotten into trouble for burglary and vandalism, said his lawyer, Jon Gale.

But, Gale said, Caron didn’t start the fires last year to hurt anyone, seek revenge or make money, and Caron has desperately wanted to be able to control his behavior.

“Phil Caron cannot tell you what motivated him to set these fires,” Gale said.

Caron’s case and his background raised questions as to how he could be hired as a call firefighter.

Caron’s father is deputy chief in charge of call firefighters in the Westbrook department. It never has been clear whether Gary Caron told anyone else at the department or in City Hall about his son’s background.

Kim and Gary Caron said in their statement that their support for their son “has never meant hiding Phillip’s past from anyone. We have always acknowledged Phil’s problems and we fully disclosed Phil’s troubled past to his employer before he began working as a call fireman.”