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UPDATE: Man Charged with Breaking Into Church then Torching it in Franklin Lakes

Franklin Lakes

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of Mr. James Z. Mayers, 26, of Franklin Lakes, on charges of Aggravated Arson and Burglary.

According to police, early this morning, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received information about a fire located at The Most Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, 787 Franklin Lakes Road, Franklin Lakes, which destroyed the unoccupied building and its contents.

An investigation revealed that Mayers entered the structure during the early morning hours and purposely started the fire with the use of gasoline and a cigarette lighter.

Police arrested Mayers at the scene and EMS treated him for thermal injuries he sustained while starting the fire.

As a result of the investigation, officials say Mayers was charged with one count of Aggravated Arson, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1a(2), a 1st-degree crime; and one count of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2a(1), a 3rd-degree crime.

Mayers was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.

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