The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports 61-year-old John Kimmel, of Uniontown, was scheduled for trial when he instead took an 11th-hour plea bargain on Tuesday and was immediately sentenced by Westmoreland County Judge John Blahovec.
Kimmel was arrested more than two years ago for setting fire to the home in March 2009 to cover up the fact that he had been stealing items from the East Huntingdon Township residence.
Witnesses saw a man who threw away a beer can nearby and other evidence led police to question Kimmel. Officers then matched DNA on the discarded can to other used beer cans at Kimmel's house.