LOWVILLE, New York (WWNY) – Convicted murderer and arsonist Shawn Exford is going to prison.
The Lowville man was sentenced Friday in Lewis County Court to 25 years to life behind bars at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora.
He set a fire at an apartment at 7525 South State Street in Lowville in November 2019.
The blaze killed 42-year-old Saratina Kilbourne and 58-year-old Catherine Crego and injured another.
During Friday’s sentencing, Exford told the court he was not upset with the jury’s verdict, however, he will never admit to something he did not do.
He also said he doesn’t remember some events from that night and he did not intentionally mean to hurt anyone.
Exford said he was sorry to victims Cathy Crego and Saratina Kilbourne, and that his family has been through enough during the trial.
Judge Daniel King said Exford’s statement proves he failed and continues to fail to accept accountability for his actions, often putting the blame elsewhere.
He said Exford has expressed no remorse for his actions.
The judge added while he feels for what Exford’s family is going through, nothing can compare to what the families of the victims are going through.
He told Exford his comments “fall on deaf ears.”
Prior to the sentencing, victim impact statements were read by Crego’s daughter and granddaughter. They outlined how difficult it has been to go through life’s ups and downs without their mother and grandmother.
Lead prosecutor Caleb Petzoldt read a letter from Brian Mushtare, who was injured in the fire. Mushtare wrote he’s become a “shell of a man” after losing a life-long friend.
Exford’s mother also wrote a letter to the judge, which he read privately.
“Based on totality of the circumstance of this case, the horrific nature of the crime, the violence, the defendant’s background and history, I think really today’s sentence was the only appropriate sentence that could be handed down by the court,” said Petzoldt.
Meanwhile, defense attorney John Hallett says Exford intends to file a notice of appeal.
“We have a question regarding the jury instructions which the judge gave to the jury before their deliberations. We had argued for a circumstantial evidence charge to be given and the judge ruled against that,” he said.
Last month, a jury took just one hour to find Exford guilty of all 13 charges contained in his indictment.
Those charges included four counts of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson, one count of second-degree arson, and six counts of first-degree reckless endangerment.
Exford was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and more than $300 in court fees. He has 30 days to appeal his conviction.
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