Arson charges were held for court against 18-year-old Carl Eugene Nelson after a hearing before the Honorable Magisterial District Judge David Judy on September 23, 2015. Nelson is alleged to have set fire to the front porch and siding of a home on Catherine Street in Middletown during the early morning hours of August 18, 2015. Five of the home’s nine residents were inside, including small children. One of the residents was awake and smelled the fire, and was able to extinguish the flames shortly before they reached the main gas line entering the home. Arson investigators were able to determine that the fire was intentionally set. Witnesses described a prior confrontation between the defendant and one of the residents of the home. Another witness testified that Nelson told him that he was going to “get back” at the resident prior to going to the Catherine Street home. That witness then saw the defendant approach and dwell at the home for a short time, then run away from the home with a “bright light” (later determined to be the fire) behind him.

Nelson is next scheduled for formal arraignment on November 18, 2015. Sergeant Richard Hiester of the Middletown Borough Police Department is the arresting officer in this case. 

Note: The charges in this matter are mere allegations at this time and Nelson is presumed innocent until proven guilty.