NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) A Norwich man convicted of arson asked a judge to be lenient and sentence him to the minimum 10 years has instead been sent to prison for 17 years.

The Bulletin reports that Marwan Chankar was found guilty in October of a July 2011 arson in Norwich. Jurors convicted the 37-year-old Chankar of arson and criminal mischief. He was found not guilty of attempted murder of a tenant who kicked him out of his apartment shortly before the fire.

New London Superior Court Judge Barbara Jongbloed said she considered the seriousness of the crime and Chankar's criminal record against a show of support from family members and that Chankar was sexually assaulted when he was a child.

Chankar apologized for ``bad choices.''

Prosecutors recommended Chankar receive 18 years in prison, saying he is a danger to society.