Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on March 24, 2023, Gregory Fullman, Jr., 33, of Manchester Township, pled guilty to three counts of Aggravated Arson before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P. At the time of his sentencing on May 19, 2023, the State will be seeking a term of twelve years New Jersey State Prison. Fullman will also be responsible for making restitution in connection with fire suppression services.
On January 31, 2022, a multi-jurisdictional investigation into numerous forest fires intentionally set in Ocean County culminated with Fullman’s arrest. The investigation revealed that Fullman was responsible for setting fires and destroying or damaging wooded areas in Little Egg Harbor Township, Manchester Township, and Lakewood Township between the dates of May 2021 and January 2022. Fullman was taken into custody on January 31, 2022, and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since his apprehension.
Prosecutor Billhimer Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Meghan O’Neill who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Unit, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Field Services Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Administrative Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Ocean County Vehicle Services Department, New Jersey State Forest Fire Service, New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office, Wall Township Police Department, and City of Bridgeton Fire Department Bureau of Fire Prevention K-9 Unit, for their combined and collective efforts relative to this extensive investigation, resulting in Fullman’s guilty pleas, and soon, his state prison sentence.