Two photo albums were handed to Whitman County Superior Court Judge David Frazier on Friday.

The first album, provided by Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy, contained 10 photographs depicting the events of April 21, 2008, when David P. Miner and Ian J. Copland, who had been drinking at Zeppoz earlier in the evening, started 10 fires on the WSU campus in or around the Stephenson Complex, Abelson Hall, the Fine Arts Building and Kimbrough Hall.

The second album, provided by Miner’s family, showed a timeline of the former WSU student’s life, from childhood to his days performing and composing jazz in the WSU School of Music.

During Miner’s sentencing hearing at the Whitman County Courthouse, Frazier asked Miner a rhetorical question.

“Which one do you think leaves a more lasting impression, young man?” he said.

After accepting a plea agreement in February, Miner and Copland were charged with two counts of second-degree arson, which together have a standard sentencing of 12 to 14 months in Washington state, Tracy said.

For two hours Friday, Miner’s attorney, Ronnie Rae, and his father, mother, sister and girlfriend pleaded for a reduced sentence for Miner.

Frazier didn’t budge, sentencing Miner, 22, and Copland, 19, to one year in prison.

Frazier imposed no additional fines on the two former WSU students, who were both expelled in April. They will have to pay $6,820 in restitution to WSU, the Pullman Police Department and the Pullman Fire Department for damage caused by the fires and legal fees.

“There’s nothing that makes you special, young man,” Frazier said to Miner. “To ask for an exceptional circumstance is almost offensive.” Frazier also said Miner and Copland were lucky there were no injuries, considering that the fires put lives in danger all around campus.

Miner and Copland, neither of whom had a previous criminal record, were originally charged with four counts of first-degree arson, two counts of second-degree arson and one count of second-degree malicious mischief. They pleaded not guilty to all seven charges on Jan. 16.

Copland’s attorney, Steve Martonick, did not push for a lighter sentence. He argued that Copland, a freshman from Aberdeen who shared a common interest with Miner in jazz performance, did not participate in the final two fires, which Tracy said were the most dangerous because they were in the Stephenson East tower.

However, he said the sentence was fair, and Copland was learning from his mistake.

“The degree between the stupidity and the kind of kid he is – is far apart,” Martonick said.

Copland’s apology was short and concise.

“The night it happened was the stupidest thing that I’ve ever done,” Copland said. “I can’t take back my actions. I just want to say sorry for what I did.” Miner, a junior music composition major from Tacoma, was a special case because he immediately regretted the decision, Rae said. He had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and deserved a chance to continue his positive progress since being expelled.

“In the last three years, I can’t think think of a case I’ve lost more sleep over,” Rae said. “No one has done as much as Mr. Miner to tell me that it was the biggest mistake of his life.” Miner’s sister said that since being expelled from WSU, Miner has moved back to Tacoma, where he started his own band and worked as an unpaid intern for a Seattle recording studio.

“He’s been an active member of the community, even though he knew he would be charged,” she said. “This is not the life of a criminal.” Miner apologized to his family, teachers, friends and Copland.

“I’m very sorry for any of the students I’ve scared and to the WSU community for what they had to endure with me,” he said.

Tracy said he thought the sentence was necessary to send a message to the WSU community.

“This incident has been called a number of things,” he said. “It’s been called a prank, a lapse of good judgment and an innocent mistake. It has another word – it’s called arson.”