ROCKLAND — A Rockland man who left his sick 4-year-old daughter home alone while he was at a bar was sentenced to serve nine months in jail.

Jeremy Dennison, 30, of Rockland, pleaded guilty May 19 in Knox County Unified Court to endangering the welfare of a child and refusing to submit to arrest for the incident that occurred in April.

According to the court documents, Dennison was overheard bragging to a woman at the Myrtle Street Tavern bar that his child was home alone sleeping since he could not find a babysitter. Police were then notified and went to Dennison’s apartment where they found the child sleeping on the couch with the television and stereo playing loudly in the background, which Dennison later told police were to keep her company while he was out.

The mother of the child, who was also at the same bar with a friend, had left her daughter in the care of Dennison with the understanding that he would watch her until she got back. After she learned that the child was home alone, she met police at the apartment, according to the report filed by Rockland Police officer Alex Gaylor.

Police noted that the child was dirty with disheveled hair. Dennison told police she that been vomiting and was sick during the day, according to the police report.

When police located Dennison, he refused to submit to arrest and was finally restrained and transported to the Knox County Jail.

Dennison was also currently on probation for an arson and aggravated criminal mischief conviction in May 2015, for setting fire to a 1999 Dodge Durango, a vehicle owned by the boyfriend of his former girlfriend. According to the court documents, he lit a rag on fire and stuffed it into the fuel tank. Dennison threatened to kill them both and told police that he was unhappy about the relationship.

He admitted to police that he started the fire and was sentenced to five years in prison with all but 13 months suspended for the arson and aggravated criminal mischief convictions.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com