The prosecuting attorney, defense attorney and judge all agreed James Beecroft needs help. Beecroft agreed, too.
"He needs to be closely monitored," said Katherine Stott, assistant commonwealth's attorney.
"My concern is his mental health," said defense attorney Steven Merril.
"It's a classic problem," said Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Dennis J. Smith, of Beecroft's history of substance abuse and mental illness. "One feeds off the other."
"I'm here today because of my actions. I didn't mean to hurt anybody," Beecroft said. "I have made a lot of progress. … A lot of my [actions] were a cry out for help because I wasn't addressing my bipolar issues."
Smith sentenced Beecroft, who has already served eight months of his sentence, to 16 months in jail on Friday, June 3 in Fairfax County Circuit Court. Beecroft, 30, pleaded guilty in March to the burning of his home on the 7400 block of Hastings Street in Springfield.
<b>FOUR FIREFIGHTERS</b> were injured on Oct. 26, 2004, while responding to a fire set by Beecroft to his father's house. The fire caused an estimated $350,000 in damage, according to court documents.
Beecroft and three firefighters were treated at Inova Fairfax Hospital.
"People could have been seriously injured or killed," Stott said.
"There is no motive. This is a mental health issue," Merril said during Beecroft's plea hearing in March.
Since his incarceration, Beecroft has been stabilized while he has been treated for bipolar disorder in jail, Merril said.
"This is a very intelligent man who can be productive in the community [if he is on his medication]," Merril said. "James says he will always be in need of substance abuse treatment and mental health treatment."
Merril asked Judge Smith to put Beecroft on strict supervision. Beecroft's father, who is 76 years old, wants his son to return to live with him, Merril said.
"The most ironic fact, in his whole family he is the only person to take care of his father," Merril said.
<b>BEFORE SENTENCING BEECROFT,</b> Judge Smith listed a number of Beecroft's past crimes, including reckless driving charges, hit and run charges, five charges of driving on a suspended license, being drunk in public, four charges of driving while intoxicated and telephone threats.
"He has been absolutely dangerous to this community," Smith said.
Smith sentenced Beecroft to eight years in jail, but suspended six years and eight months.
He gave Beecroft a warning, which included strong advice.
"If you don't take your medication … all that's going to happen is you're going to be back here," Smith said. "It's not going to be easy for you to do it. You're going to have to fight the urge. … If you want to self-medicate, you're only going to end up back here."