Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Little Egg Harbor Township Chief of Police James Hawkins announced that on January 12, 2023, Steven Johnson, 36, of Little Egg Harbor Township, was charged with three counts of Aggravated Arson, in connection with fires that occurred on January 6, 2024, January 10, 2024, and January 12, 2024, all at the same residence in Little Egg Harbor Township.
On January 6, 2024, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the Little Egg Harbor Police Department and Little Egg Harbor Fire Departments were dispatched to a structure fire at a vacant structure on Revolutionary Road. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. A thorough and extensive investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Little Egg Harbor Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office K-9 Unit, revealed that the fire originated in the living room of the structure, and that the cause of the fire was incendiary by an unknown person using an open flame to an ignitable liquid.
On January 10, 2024, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Little Egg Harbor Police Department and Little Egg Harbor Fire Departments were once again dispatched to the same address on Revolutionary Road for a report of a shed fire. A subsequent investigation determined that the fire was again incendiary by an unknown person using an open flame to an ignitable liquid. The shed was not damaged from the fire.
On January 12, 2024, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Officers from the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department were conducting surveillance at the subject residence on Revolutionary Road when they observed an unknown male, later identified as Johnson – the next door neighbor – hop the fence of the subject property and pour a liquid on the attached deck. Johnson then lit an item on fire, and dropped the ignited item on the deck. Officers observed Johnson leave the subject property and return to his own residence. Officers quickly extinguished the fire, proceeded to Johnson’s residence and placed him under arrest without incident. Further investigation revealed that Johnson was responsible for all three fires at the Revolutionary Road residence. Johnson was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains lodged pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Hawkins acknowledge the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Little Egg Harbor Police Department, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office K-9 Unit, for their combined and cooperative 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).