According to authorities, a 29 year-old woman has been arrested in Paterson for Arson after allegedly setting fire to an abandoned building on Pearl Street. Erin Micco has been charged with two counts of second-degree aggravated arson. She allegedly started the fire to the vacant building, and luckily the fire did not cause displacement of any residents and no one was injured in the two -alarm fire blaze which started at 8:40am on Tuesday. Click here to read more at www.patersontimes.com.
Arson is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1, which provides:
a. Aggravated Arson. A person is guilty of aggravated arson, a crime of the second degree, if he starts a fire or causes an explosion, whether on his own property or another s:
- Thereby purposely or knowingly placing another person in danger of death or bodily injury; or
- With the purpose of destroying a building or structure of another; or
- With the purpose of collecting insurance for the destruction or damage to such property under circumstances which recklessly place any other person in danger of death or bodily injury; or
- With the purpose of destroying or damaging a structure in order to exempt the structure, completely or partially, from the provisions of any State, county or local zoning, planning or building law, regulation, ordinance or enactment under circumstances which recklessly place any other person in danger of death or bodily injury; or
- With the purpose of destroying or damaging any forest.
b. Arson. A person is guilty of arson, a crime of the third degree, if he purposely starts a fire or causes an explosion, whether on his own property or another s:
- Thereby recklessly placing another person in danger of death or bodily injury; or
- Thereby recklessly placing a building or structure of another in danger of damage or destruction; or
- With the purpose of collecting insurance for the destruction or damage to such property; or
- With the purpose of destroying or damaging a structure in order to exempt the structure, completely or partially, from the provisions of any State, county or local zoning, planning or building law, regulation, ordinance or enactment; or
- Thereby recklessly placing a forest in danger of damage or destruction.
Notably, any person who, directly or indirectly, pays or accepts or offers to pay or accept any form or consideration including, but not limited to, money or any other pecuniary benefit, regardless of whether any consideration is actually exchanged for the purpose of starting a fire or causing an explosion commits a crime of the second degree.
Aggravated Arson is a crime of the second degree, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of between 5 and 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
Moreover, a conviction for Aggravated Arson under paragraph (1) is an enumerated crime under the No Early Release Act ( NERA ), meaning that 85% of the sentence imposed must be served before becoming eligible for parole.
Arson is a crime of the third degree, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years in New Jersey State Prison.
If you or a loved one is charged with arson, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately. Former Morris County Prosecutor, Alissa Hascup is skilled and experienced at defending countless individuals charged with arson in towns like Wayne, Paterson, and Clifton. She is committed to ensuring your rights are protected in court and that you receive the best possible outcome for your case. Contact her office for a free consultation about your case. She is available 24/7 at 862-257-1200.
