Egg Harbor Township Man Pleads Guilty To Aggravated Arson

LAKEWOOD, NJ — An Egg Harbor Township man pleaded guilty to aggravated arson in connection with an incident that happened in Lakewood Township on Aug. 22, 2020.

On that day, Lakewood Township police responded to a report of a house on fire.An investigation revealed that the fire had been intentionally set using an ignitable liquid and an open flame.

Police later determined that Jamal Preston, 27, of Egg Harbor Township was responsible for intentionally setting the fire while three individuals were inside.

Preston fled the scene, but was arrested at a motel in Absecon by the United States Marshals Service on Aug. 31, 2020. He has since been lodged in the Ocean County Jail.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday that Preston pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated arson - by purposely or knowingly placing another in danger of death or bodily injury - as well as a second count of aggravated arson - with purpose to destroy the building or structure of another.

Additionally, Preston pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of unlawful possession of a weapon in connection with an incident that occurred two days earlier in Berkeley Township on Aug. 20, 2020 when he was found to be in possession of a knife. He was taken into custody, charged on a summons, and released pending a future court date.

At the time of his sentencing on Feb. 25, 2022, the state will seek a term of seven years in New Jersey State Prison, as well as a flat seven-year prison term with regard to the arson charge relating to Preston’s purpose to destroy the building/structure of another.

The state will also seek a term of 18 months in state prison as to the weapon charge. All sentences are to run concurrently.

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