The former superintendent for Randolph NJ schools has been charged with arson after allegedly setting fire to his home.
According to law enforcement, the 55-year-old suspect intentionally started the blaze at his home at 380 Wyckoff Avenue in Wyckoff, New Jersey.
The suspect was found by firefighters outside his house. The firefighters had come to the scene after receiving a report of a fire in a detached garage at the residence.
The suspect suffered serious burn injuries as a result of the fire. He was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he received medical treatment and later remained under observation.
Meanwhile, authorities suspected that the fire might have been set on purpose, so they investigated the cause of the blaze. The agencies conducting the investigation included the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad and the Wyckoff Police Department.
Investigators eventually determined that the suspect intentionally started the fire by using an accelerant inside of the garage.
The suspect has been charged with one count of arson. A Bergen County Superior Court judge ordered that the suspect surrender to police within 24 hours of being released from the hospital.
If the suspect is ultimately convicted on the arson charges, he faces significant penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1, anyone who purposely starts a fire or causes an explosion can be charged with a third degree crime. A conviction for third degree arson could lead to a sentence of 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison.
Last month, the suspect abruptly resigned from his position as Randolph schools superintendent. He had been on a 30-day medical leave from his job at the time of the alleged arson incident. Sometime after the incident, the Randolph Board of Education accepted the suspect’s resignation.
To learn more about this case, see the DailyRecord.com article entitled “Ex-Randolph Schools Chief Charged with Arson.”
