Pocono News Section

Former Volunteer Firefighter Will Go to Trial on Arson Charges

Former Volunteer Firefighter Will Go to Trial on Arson Charges - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 1:36PM EST

Reported by: David DeCosmo
Tuesday, Jun 10, 2008 @ 01:36pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- A former volunteer firefighter in Lackawanna County gave up his right to a preliminary hearing on arson charges. A pre-trial conference for 25-year-old Benjamin Christensen has been scheduled for July 25th.

Christensen, from Carbondale, had been a volunteer with the White's Crossing, Justice, and Greenfield Township fire departments. He was arrested in April on seven charges of arson.

Investigators say Christensen set fires ar Mermelstein's MarketPlace in Carbondale in September of 2007. Seven business places were destroyed in that blaze. He was also charged with setting fires at Fortuner's Building in Mayfield, Jonal's Lawn and Garden Center in Greenfield Township, and two houses in the Carbondale area.

Christensen remains in jail pending court proceedings in his case.