Man receives jail term for setting Potsdam fire

CANTON — A Potsdam man will spend six months in the St. Lawrence County jail for intentionally setting a January house fire that sent a firefighter to the hospital.

Reginald E. Rattie, 34, of Route 11B, was sentenced Monday in St. Lawrence County Court to five years probation. He pleaded guilty in April to third-degree attempted arson.

He and co-defendentEleanor M. Cota, 41, of Potsdam, were accused of setting a Jan. 27 fire at 681 Route 11, Potsdam, to collect insurance money. Ms. Cota had owned the home.

The blaze drew firefighters from Potsdam, West Stockholm, Parishville, Norwood and Hannawa Falls. Potsdam firefighter Justin C. Perry was treated at Canton-Potsdam Hospital for smoke inhalation and injuries from falling down stairs.

Ms. Cota was indicted by a county grand jury in late April of third-degree arson and second-degree insurance fraud.

In other court proceedings:

William J. Whitney Jr., 16, of 116 Route 58, Fine, was sentenced to one year of interim probation for having sexual contact with two underage girls last October. He pleaded guilty in May to first-degree attempted sexual abuse.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas C. Finnerty Jr. read statements by the two girls and their mother asking the judge to give him a jail term. Protection orders were issued for the two girls. Whitney apologized to the family, who wasn't in the courtroom, before being sentenced.