Massachusetts man who set fire to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris display, sentenced to prison

A Massachusetts man, who was arrested in October after setting fire to a Joe Biden and Kamala Harris display, has been sentenced.

As a result of an investigation conducted, police arrested Lonnie Durfee, 50, of Dalton, on a charge of burning personal property and had been held without bail.

According to iBerkshires, Durfee was sentenced on the charge Thursday to one year at the Berkshire County House of Correction which was the maximum jail sentence under a plea deal.

“This is a sad reflection of the vast polarization in our country and in the Berkshires. We believe Mr. Durfee destroyed personal property because he disagreed with the property owner’s political views. Our community will not accept those types of actions under any circumstances,” District Attorney Andrea Harrington said.

Durfee was accused of using gasoline and motor oil to set fire to hay bales displaying support for the Biden/Harris presidential campaign on Holiday Brook Farm on October 9th. Dalton Police, State Police, and the Fire Marshal’s Officer determined someone had intentionally lit the fire and the investigation ultimately led Dalton Police to arrest Durfee.

The farm in response to the arson, rebuilt the display in hopes of rebuilding the division with unity.

Photo courtesy of Colin Ovitsky