Adams, NY - A Jefferson County man accused of falsely reporting a break-in at the Adams Fire Department is now facing charges he and several juveniles set three fires in the area last month. Albert J. Stevens, 27, of 9091 Route 11, Adams, is accused of falsely reporting the fire department burglary about 8:30 p.m. last Saturday. State police indicated...
Adams, NY - A Jefferson County man accused of falsely reporting a break-in at the Adams Fire Department is now facing charges he and several juveniles set three fires in the area last month.
Albert J. Stevens, 27, of 9091 Route 11, Adams, is accused of falsely reporting the fire department burglary about 8:30 p.m. last Saturday. State police indicated that report turned out to be false and Stevens admitted to stealing a tray of food from the fire hall on an unknown date.
But during the interview, authorities also determined Stevens was involved in several arson fires during August.
Authorities have accused him and one juvenile of setting an Aug. 8 fire in an abandoned building on State Route 289. Stevens and three juveniles are accused of setting an Aug. 15 fire at the abandoned Pine Restaurant on State Route 11 in Mannsville and an Aug. 23 fire at a hay barn on County Route 121 in Ellisburg.
Stevens is charged with three counts of third-degree arson, second-degree reckless endangerment and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the fires. Juveniles involved, aged 14 and 15, have had their cases referred to Family Court.
Stevens also is charged with offering a false instrument for filing, falsely reporting an incident, fourth-degree criminal mischief and petit larceny in the false-burglary incident.
Stevens was arraigned in Adams Town Court and ordered held in the Jefferson County Public Safety Building on $5,000 bail pending grand jury action.