El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en junio 9, 2025, Kaele Principato, 18, del municipio de Barnegat, and Lucas Pyle, 18, of Egg Harbor City, were each charged with Aggravated Arson and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, in connection with an incident that occurred in Barnegat on June 7, 2025.
En Junio 7, 2025, aproximadamente a 2:50 pm., the Barnegat Township Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to a home on Schooner Avenue for a report of a residential fire. A la llegada, emergency personnel observed no active fire, and learned that the fire had already been extinguished by the residents. Una investigación realizada por la Unidad de Delitos Mayores-Escuadrón de Incendios Incendiarios de la Fiscalía del Condado de Ocean, Barnegat Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office K-9 Unit, y la Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, revealed that the origin of the fire was in the living room of the home, and the cause of the fire was incendiary by an unknown person or persons discharging a flare gun through the window of the residence – causing the window curtains to catch fire.
Continuing investigation by the aforementioned agencies identified Principato and Pyle as the individuals responsible for firing the flare gun into the residence and causing the fire before fleeing the scene.
En Junio 9, 2025, Principato and Pyle were taken into custody at Barnegat Township Police Headquarters. Both were transported to the Ocean County Jail where they are presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Equipo contra delitos de alta tecnología de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Barnegat Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office K-9 Unit, Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, and Egg Harbor City Police Department, por sus esfuerzos combinados en relación con esta investigación.
Los cargos mencionados anteriormente son meras acusaciones y se recuerda a la prensa y al público que todos los acusados se presumen inocentes a menos y hasta que se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable en un tribunal de justicia..
RPC. 3.6(b)(6).