Pocono News Section

Carbon County Man Arrested for 16 Arsons

Carbon County Man Arrested for 16 Arsons - Monday, December 29, 2008 at 11:00PM EST

LOWER TOWAMENSING TWP., CARBON COUNTY- A Carbon County man is behind bars charged with setting 16 brush fires. 42-year-old Frank Swartz of Summit Hill is facing nearly 100 counts of arson and arson-related charges.

Investigators say he set the fires in March and April. Most of the brush fires were in Lower Towamensing Township. Cops say Swartz set the fires using homemade devices.

One was found at a fire scene and sent to a crime lab. State Police Fire Marshal David Klitsch said, "A latent fingerprint was recovered and subsequently part of the incendiary device was sent away for DNA analysis. A partial DNA fingerprint was established and we searched the DNA file which led us toward Mr. Swartz. Hig fingerprint was on file from a previous arrest."

Swartz admitted setting the fires as a diversion from his problems. He's in the Carbon County jail on $100,000 bail. Swartz is scheduled to go before a judge next week.