PARIS – A man who set fire to his apartment in Rumford will spend nine months in jail.

Wilfred T. Merrill Jr., 43, of Rumford pleaded guilty to a Class A arson Tuesday in Oxford County Superior Court.

Judge Roland A. Cole sentenced him to six years in prison with all but nine months suspended. Merrill will also serve four years probation and pay $2,400 in restitution.

The fire and efforts to fight it caused $3,400 in damage to the building Merrill was staying in. He admitted to setting the fire on March 5 as a way of getting attention. After the fire was put out, police had a standoff with Merrill, who was sitting in the bathroom with a large knife and asking police to kill him.

Officer Kim Mills was able to disarm Merrill, according to an affidavit filed by Lt. George T. Cayer of the Rumford Police Department.

Merrill has prior convictions for assault, aggravated assault and criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.