A Montezuma woman was sentenced in county court Tuesday to four months of weekend work release in the Cayuga County Jail and five years probation for attempting to burn her home by knocking over a lamp and leaving it tipped over in her attic.

The upper level of the single-family home was destroyed when Patricia Bennett, 56, of 8146 Route 90, left the lamp tipped over July 24.

Bennett must also pay $5,000 restitution to an insurance company.

Bennett's attorney, James Leone, said that Bennett acted out of character - by leaving the lamp knowing it could cause the fire - out of stress that her daughter and daughter's boyfriend “would not move to help themselves and lived a burdensome life.”

Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Bennett had understandable stress, but that did not excuse the risk to volunteer firefighters and others.

Bennett teared up as she apologized and said she was glad nobody was hurt.

State police arrested Bennett's daughter's ex-boyfriend, Scott A. Cardinali, on the misdemeanor charge he stole appliances from Bennett's home before Bennett was able to post bail after it was reduced to $1,500 cash from $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond.

Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net