Queens man pleads guilty to second-degree arson
Fire Truck

Queens Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Arson

Posted by
1 min read
November 19, 2024

Queens, NY – Evan Person has pleaded guilty to second-degree arson after setting fire to cars and a home in South Ozone Park, critically injuring two people. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the plea, noting Person’s actions over a span of less than an hour which endangered lives and resulted in significant injuries to the home’s occupants.

District Attorney Katz expressed gratitude to the FDNY Fire Marshals for their role in the case. FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker highlighted the danger posed to New Yorkers and FDNY members by Person’s acts, commending the efforts of all involved for ensuring public safety.

Person, a resident of Linden Boulevard aged 35, was indicted on multiple charges. These included two counts each of first-degree arson and criminal mischief, along with burglary and endangering the welfare of a child. He pleaded guilty before Justice Toni Cimino on Tuesday and faces a 15-year prison sentence starting early January.

The incident, occurring on July 4, involved video evidence of Person lighting a BMW on fire, which subsequently damaged another vehicle, followed by an attack on a nearby home. The ensuing fire injured two individuals who were asleep in the basement.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss