Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on October 7, 2024, Charles Maulbeck, 51, of Toms River, was charged with Aggravated Arson in connection with a fire that occurred in Brick Township on September 13, 2024.
On September 13, 2024, while on routine patrol, Brick Township Police Officers observed smoke and heavy fire coming from a residence on Falkenberg Road. During fire suppression efforts, three firefighters were injured. One of the firefighters declined medical attention at the scene, and two others were treated at a local medical facility and released. A thorough and extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Brick Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Brick Township Bureau of Fire Safety, revealed that the fire originated in the north side of the split basement; the cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary by an unknown person or persons utilizing an open flame to available combustibles.
Continuing investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad, and Brick Township Police Department Detective Bureau, identified Maulbeck as the individual responsible for setting the fire.
On October 7, 2024, Maulbeck was served with the charge on a complaint in the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged on an unrelated matter.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad, Brick Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and Brick Township Bureau of Fire Safety, for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).