Manhattan Partygoer Gets Prison for Fire in Host's Building

A guest convicted of setting a fire in a New York City apartment building after being asked to leave a party has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Daniel Phillips was sentenced Tuesday. His lawyer, Eric Sears, stressed the 32-year-old film editor's clean record and accomplishments.

Sears says it's difficult "to believe he'd ever do something like this intentionally."

The Manhattan district attorney's office says Phillips reluctantly left a friend's January 2009 birthday gathering. Then he started a fire in a recycling storage area.

Prosecutors say flames and smoke shot up the five-story building's stairwell and caused more than $320,000 in damage.

No one was hurt, but dozens of people had to flee into a 14-degree night.

Phillips' plans to appeal his conviction on arson and other charges.