By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on September 29, Thomas Lester, 21, of Tuckerton, pled guilty to Aggravated Arson before the Honorable Dina M. Vicari, J.S.C., in connection with an incident that occurred in Little Egg Harbor Township on January 8, 2024.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer stated that Lester also pleaded guilty to Criminal Mischief before Judge Vicari in connection with the same incident.
According to Ocean County officials, at the time of his sentencing on November 17, 2025, the State will be seeking a term of three years in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as to the Aggravated Arson charge and 12 months in NJSP as to the Criminal Mischief charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.
OCPO officials say that on January 8, 2024, at approximately 3:19 a.m., the Little Egg Harbor Township Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to a report of a structure fire on National Union Boulevard. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire.
A thorough and extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department Detective Bureau, revealed that the fire originated in the living room of the structure; the cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary by an unknown person or persons utilizing an open flame to ignitable liquid, OCPO officials stated.
According to Ocean County officials, continuing investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad, and Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department Detective Bureau led to the identification of Lester and Ethan Salter, 20, of Little Egg Harbor Township, as the individuals responsible for setting the fire.
Ocean County authorities said that on March 7, 2024, Lester and Salter were taken into custody without incident at their respective residences by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad and Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department Detective Bureau and transported to the Ocean County Jail.
Lester was released as a consequence of New Jersey's Bail Reform, OCPO officials stated. 
Ocean County officials said that on April 28, Salter pled guilty to Aggravated Arson before Judge Vicari in connection with the incident; his sentencing is likewise scheduled for November 17, 2025.
Salter remains detained in the Ocean County Jail while he awaits sentencing.