Erving paper mill arsonists sentenced

Tools

By CBS 3 Springfield News

Story Published: Nov 23, 2009 at 5:20 PM EDT

Story Updated: Nov 23, 2009 at 5:20 PM EDT

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) - A Massachusetts judge has sentenced two
men to 15 years in prison for burning down the birthplace of the
woman made famous by the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

John Rousseau and Michael Dreslinski also were ordered Monday to
pay more than $200,000 in restitution for the series of fires in
central and western Massachusetts at the historic house and three
other buildings in 2007.

Town officials in Sterling say the vacant house burned there was
the birthplace of Mary Elizabeth Sawyer, who inspired the "Little
Lamb" poem.

The 30-year-old Clinton residents also were convicted of
starting fires at a barn in Holden, an abandoned paper factory in
Erving, and a railroad bungalow in Florida, Mass.

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