Grand Forks man sentenced in string of fires

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — A man who pleaded guilty in a string of fires in Grand Forks last year has been sentenced to two years in prison and three years of supervised probation.

Twenty-four-year-old Michael Duray was accused of starting nine vehicle and home blazes in the city in the early morning hours of June 28, 2008. He pleaded guilty this past June to two felony counts of endangerment by fire in a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Judge Sonja Clapp said Duray told authorities he was drinking alcohol before setting the fires and that Duray doesn't know the origin of his urge to start fires. She ordered Duray to undergo psychological and substance-abuse evaluations and pay restitution in all nine cases. The amount will be determined later.

Duray might face more prison time. He is to be sentenced Monday for setting fire to two garages in Fargo last April. His attorney told Clapp that Duray will serve at least another year behind bars.

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Information from: Grand Forks Herald, http://www.grandforksherald.com

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