Arson and Related Offenses

Fourth Degree Arson (N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1(c)) is also known as Failure to Control or Report Dangerous Fire.

The charge occurs when a person knows that a fire is endangering life or a substantial amount of property of another.

Furthermore, one either fails to take reasonable measures to put it out or bring it under control.

This is when they can do so without putting themselves in jeopardy, or fail to promptly report the fire.

The law also creates two conditions, one of which must be true.

First, if you are under an official, contractual, or other legal duty to combat a fire.

Second, if you started the fire lawfully on your property, or property in your custody.

Fourth degree arson can happen in a number of ways. These ways range from a barbecue gone awry to burning a leaf pile without adequate supervision.

NJ Criminal Defense Lawyer For Fighting Penalties For Fourth Degree Arson Charges

Penalties For fourth degree arson charges can be steep. It’s a felony offense, with a maximum sentence of 18 months and fines of up to $10,000, plus a strong likelihood of paying restitution for any property damaged.

As with any criminal charge, there are defenses. You should never submit to police interview about a fire that got out of hand without an attorney present.

Arson prosecutions are taken very seriously. Saying the wrong thing to police can result in a more significant charge than Fourth Degree Arson.

If you’ve been charged under 2C:17-1(c), don’t wait to get legal help.

Call MatthewReisig today at 732-625-9661 and talk to an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney for free.

When a fire is set or an explosion caused purposely, but with reckless intent, it will be prosecuted under N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1(b), Arson, also known as Third Degree Arson.

Intent is important in this charge, as evidence that there was purposeful or knowing effort to put others in danger or damage structures is prosecuted as the more serious Aggravated Arson Charges.

It’s important that you work with an attorney who can build a strong case for reckless conduct, or even better, merely failing to report a dangerous fire, which diminishes your exposure to penalties for arson charges even more.

NJ Arson Defense Attorney Will Fight Penalties For You

If you’re convicted of Third Degree Arson, a felony, you will face a prison sentence of between three and five years and a fine of up to $15,000.

While this is not ideal, it’s also possible to be prosecuted for arson as a first or second degree crime, which would lead to significantly longer sentences and higher fines.

Your attorney must have the resources and experience to build the right case to protect your interests and show the prosecution that your role was as minor as possible, and your intent as benign as possible.

MatthewReisig has been defending people in New Jersey facing serious felony charges for nearly 20 years.

Call 732-625-9661 today to talk to an experienced New Jersey arson defense attorney for free.

First Degree Arson, as defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1(d) (also known as Arson for Hire) is the allegation that you gave or received, or offered to give or receive, some type of consideration, including money, for the purpose of starting a fire or causing an explosion.

It is immaterial whether the payment or consideration was ever made; merely making the agreement is adequate to trigger charges.

Note that both the person committing the act of arson and the person who hired them are equally liable under this section.

There is no leniency for arguing that you weren’t the person who actually lit the match.

First Degree Arson is the most serious of the arson charges, and the penalty for conviction of Arson For Hire, carries a prison sentence of at least ten years if you’re convicted.

Given the risk to life and property, it’s likely that Arson for Hire would be charged alongside other serious offenses, potentially putting decades of your life in jeopardy.

You’ll also be expected to pay huge sums of money if convicted, with fines of up to $200,000 as well as restitution fees and the potential for civil liability to recover damages.

Arson for Hire is a charge that can feasibly steal away much of the rest of your life.

You have to fight back with clear, tough legal help.

If you’ve been charged under 2C:17-1(d), get experienced help right away.

Call MatthewReisig today at 732-625-9661 for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney

Aggravated Arson (N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1) is considered an extremely serious crime in New Jersey, because the allegation is that you intended to harm someone else, their property, or to profit from the damage or destruction of your own property while recklessly endangering others.

Usually, Aggravated Arson is charged as a Second Degree Crime, which is comparable to a serious felony in other states.

Prison sentences for Aggravated Arson are between five and 10 years, with fines running as high as $150,000, plus restitution.

In cases where a person pays another person to start a fire that meets the definition or Aggravated Arson, or a person accepts money or other consideration in exchange for starting a fire that meets the terms of the statute (whether payment is ever made), Aggravated Arson can be charged as a First Degree Crime.

Judges have a great deal of latitude in determining how long your sentence will be, but it will almost certainly be counted in decades.

Aggravated Arson charges can put you away for the rest of your productive life. Get the most qualified help available.

Call attorney Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9661 for a free consultation.

Arson and Aggravated Arson are both covered under the same statute in New Jersey, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1, with the major difference between the two charges being the element of recklessness versus the element of intent.

In Arson prosecutions, a person is charged with recklessly endangering others or their property.

Aggravated Arson is a much more serious charge, and alleges that you acted with purpose and knowledge.

Aggravated Arson charges are described by the following provisions:

A person commits aggravated arson when he starts a fire or causes an explosion, whether on his own property or another’s:

1. Thereby purposely and knowingly placing another person in danger of death or bodily injury; or
2. With the purpose of destroying a building or structure of another; or
3. 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
4. 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
5. With the purpose of destroying or damaging any forest.

Aggravated Arson is typically charged as a Second Degree Crime in New Jersey (5-10 year prison sentence), but there are circumstances where it can be charged as a First Degree Crime.

Attorney Matthew Reisig defends clients against even the most serious aggravated arson charges in New Jersey.

Call 732-625-9661 today for a free consultation.

In New Jersey, Arson (N.J.S.A 2C:17-1) is defined as intentionally starting a fire or explosion, which thereby recklessly places another person in danger of bodily injury or death;
places a building or structure belonging to another in danger of damage or destruction; with the purpose of collecting insurance for the damage or destruction to the property;
with the purpose of damaging or destroying a structure to exempt it from regulations of the State, county, or other authority;
or recklessly endangering a forest with the risk of damage or destruction.

Violation of any one of these provisions is grounds to be charged with Arson in New Jersey.

The punishment if convicted under N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1 is a prison sentence between three and five years and a $15,000 fine.

You’ll also face various fees, fines, and restitution payments.

Arson is an extremely serious charge that requires strong legal defense right away.

Call attorney Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9661 for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey Arson defense attorney.