A Warren man sentenced to state prison for burning down his mother’s Morrison St. house in order to collect insurance payments has had a request for sentence reconsideration denied.

Robert D.L. Clever II was sentenced on March 10 to 12 to 48 months in state prison by Judge Gregory Hammond, who also presided over Friday’s argument.

Clever pled in January to charges including causing or risking a catastrophe, and arson – intent to collect insurance.

Clever’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Nicholis Milardo, said during argument on Friday that the motion for reconsideration was filed at Clever’s request.

At issue was part of the plea agreement where the Commonwealth agreed to not object to a county sentence.

Milardo said after Friday’s argument that Clever asked him to file the motion because Hammond imposed a state sentence.

Hammond referenced his comments from sentencing – specifically that the home belonged to Clever’s mother, that his mother submitted a “compelling” letter to the court insinuating that Clever stole her jewelry prior to setting the fire, and that Clever’s letters to the court “indicate no remorse… (and) talked about himself a lot.”

In denying the motion, he said that he believes “the state sentence I imposed was appropriate.”

At sentencing, Hammond called Clever’s conduct “senseless and greedy,” putting countless people in harm’s way.

He said the letter from Clever’s mother was “heartbreaking” and that a county sentence would be “wholly inappropriate.”

At the time of the fire last August, police said firefighters thought the fire was suspicious and a state police fire marshal was called in when the fire was extinguished.

The fire marshal also told city police that the fire was suspicious and that he would interview residents. He determined that the fire started in the kitchen near the toaster, police said.

“Through the interviews and through my investigation we proved that (Clever’s) story was incorrect,” Detective Tony Chimenti said at the time of the arrest.

In the criminal complaint, police said Clever “did start a fire in the kitchen area of his residence… The fire caused extensive damage to the residence and placed responding firefighters, police, and neighbors in danger of serious bodily injury.”

These aren’t Clever’s only criminal charges.

City of Warren Police filed a charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution against Clever in September.

Those charges are still pending.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Clever allegedly drove Keller Wolfgang from Warren to Erie on the night of Aug. 24.

Wolfgang, Warren, is charged with attempted homicide; aggravated assault; simple assault; and recklessly endangering another person in relation to an alleged stabbing on Aug. 24.

Clever and Wolfgang allegedly arranged to meet in Warren and have Clever drive Wolfgang to Erie to “meet up with a few friends.”

Police said both men told police that Clever drove Wolfgang to Erie.