Fall River and Foxboro man sentenced to prison after setting two fires, one requiring rescue

A Fall River and Foxboro man was sentenced to prison for setting two fires, including one to a house where an elderly woman was asleep, after threatening an ex-girlfriend in a series of phone calls and texts.

According to Bristol County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Gregg Miliote, 51-year-old Brian E. Chase was sentenced by Fall River Superior Court Judge Renee Dupuis to a six- to eight-year prison term followed by three years’ probation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jason Mohan.

Chase was previously indicted by a Bristol County Grand Jury on Arson related charges stemming for two fires on March 26, 2017. The fires were on Mansfield Avenue in the Town of Norton.

One of the fires in question involved firefighters having to rescue an elderly woman in her home.

Both fires were deemed suspicious and were across the street from each other.

The sentencing came after a 12-person jury found Chase guilty of arson and criminal harassment after a week-long trial and three hours of deliberation.

“I’m very pleased the jury held the defendant accountable for this very serious crime, which could have resulted in serious injury or death to the occupant of the home,” DA Quinn said.