Minnesota Contractor Gets 6 Years for Arson Conviction

A Duluth, Minn., building contractor convicted of vandalizing a client’s duplex over a billing fight has been sentenced to almost seven years in prison.

A jury convicted 35-year-old Adam Leroy Seavey of first-degree arson. He was sentenced Friday to the maximum possible term of six years, nine months.

A Duluth News Tribune report says Seavey declined to comment before sentencing. Defense attorney Mikkel Long told the judge his client maintains his innocence.

Duplex owner Jason Branstrom testified that he refused to pay Seavey $15,000 after Seavey did substandard construction work for him.

Surveillance video shows a suspect in dark clothes and mask setting fire to Branstrom’s duplex with four people inside. Separate video shows Seavey buying dark clothes and a ski mask from a Wisconsin Wal-mart.

No one was hurt.