Canon City man gets 15 years for setting friend on fire

A Canon City man who was found guilty of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon for setting another man on fire last year was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

But before Michael Scavarda, 36, was moved from the courtroom Tuesday, he shared an emotional exchange with the victim, who said he forgave him “totally,” according to the Canon City Daily Record.

Scavarda was found guilty of assault, arson, and menacing in May. He faced up to 32 years in prison.

It happened on March 19, 2017, when Scavarda doused Jason Crowder’s face with gasoline and then started the fire. Scavarda said he didn’t intend to kill Crowder and that he only intended to scare him for allegedly telling his girlfriend he was cheating on her.

Crowder said what Scavarda did was “uncharacteristic of him, and it does not take 10 years to be sorry,” as he lamented the minimum sentence of 10 years for being too stiff.

“I am very, very sorry, and I hope you can forgive me,” Scavarda said, according to the Daily Record.

“I forgive you,” Crowder told Scavarda. “Thank you for trying to put [the fire] out. I totally forgive you.”

But District Judge Lynette Wenner said she was troubled by Scavarda’s “lack of compassion.”

“I wish you the best, and I see that you recognize the severity of these actions,” Wenner said as she sentenced Scavarda.