Former Pennsylvania Firefighter Enters Plea in Arsons

A former volunteer firefighter has pleaded no contest in connection with a series of arsons in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Twenty-six-year-old Benjamin Christensen entered the plea in Lackawanna County Court on Friday.

Prosecutors say the Carbondale resident faces up to 20 years in prison.

Christensen was arrested in April 2008.

He was charged in seven fires that caused more than $1 million in damages to homes and businesses over a 15-month period in 2007 and 2008. Prosecutors say he set the fires out of boredom and anger.

Christensen pleaded no contest to setting five of the fires; he also pleaded no contest to conspiracy in two others, in which authorities say he assisted another man.

Prosecutors say the other man, Robert Woolaver Jr., is serving a 4-to-12 year sentence for his role.

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Latest Comments

September 9, 2009 at 10:36 am

Big Mike In CALI says:

...not to mention the fire arson investigator who was actually setting fires up and down the state of CA some years ago. He was caught when the police determined that the fir... read more
September 9, 2009 at 8:11 am

wudchuck says:

if you recall, there was the case in the west where a person was trying to get hired as a firefighter and started a fire that got way out of hand. it caused a massive fire th... read more
September 8, 2009 at 1:21 am

Factman says:

Compared to other occupations Firefighters have a very high rate of arsonists. Think about it. If you get off on fires go to work for the fire department.