Binghamton Man to be Sentence for Meth-Sparked Fire

The Broome County District Attorney’s office is asking that a Binghamton man, who was cooking methamphetamine in his girlfriend’s apartment in February when the mixture exploded causing a huge fire, be sentenced to up to three years in state prison and pay restitution for damages.

The February 23^rd blaze at 259 to 261 Main Street, Binghamton destroyed the two adjoined buildings and displaced 50 tenants.

37 year old Daniel Kauchis suffered burns to his hands, face arms and legs when the meth mixture he was cooking on the third floor exploded. The resulting fire burned for almost 24 hours.

Kauchis, in July, pleaded guilty to felony arson and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment.

Originally, Kauchis was to have been sentenced September 24^th.  That date was pushed back to this month to give prosecutors more time to work out what sort of restitution figure they wanted to request during sentencing.

Kauchis has been held in the Broome County Jail following his release from the hospital where he had been treated for his injuries.