Ex-Walmart employee pleads guilty to bomb hoax, arson in Ocean County

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April 30, 2025
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A stolen radio, a false bomb threat, and a deliberate fire send Ocean County man toward prison.

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A 20-year-old Little Egg Harbor Township man has pleaded guilty to creating a false public alarm and aggravated arson, stemming from a December 2023 bomb threat and a January 2024 residential fire, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced Monday.

Ethan Salter entered guilty pleas before Judge Dina M. Vicari in Ocean County Superior Court. Prosecutors will recommend concurrent three-year state prison terms for each charge at Salter’s sentencing on June 13. He remains in custody at the Ocean County Jail.

Key Points

  • Ethan Salter pleaded guilty to a Walmart bomb threat and a separate residential arson.
  • Salter used a stolen in-store radio to make the December 2023 bomb hoax.
  • He remains jailed; sentencing is set for June 13, 2025, with a three-year term recommended.

Authorities said Salter triggered the bomb scare on December 2, 2023, by using a stolen Walmart employee radio to broadcast a threat inside the store. The incident prompted an evacuation and bomb squad search, which found no credible danger. Police later identified Salter, a former store employee, as the source of the transmission. He was arrested at his home three days later.

The arson case dates to January 8, 2024, when a structure fire broke out on National Union Boulevard. Investigators determined the blaze was deliberately set in the living room using an open flame and an ignitable liquid. No injuries were reported.

Arson investigation reveals co-defendant

Following a joint investigation by multiple agencies including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and the New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office, Salter and 21-year-old Thomas Lester of Tuckerton were both charged with arson. They were arrested on March 7 without incident.

Salter remains detained while Lester was released under New Jersey Bail Reform. Charges against Lester are still pending.

The bomb hoax and arson cases involved coordination between local law enforcement and state agencies, including the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and the High Tech Crime Squad.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital news organization covering New Jersey, national politics, public policy, public safety, and community affairs. With years of experience reporting on local government, elections, law enforcement, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey, Stilton has built a reputation for delivering timely news, in-depth reporting, and accountability journalism.

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