(PA) Firefighters charged with setting furniture store ablaze

WEST MAHONING TOWNSHIP, PA — Two volunteer firefighters have been arrested by a team of state and federal agents on charges that they intentionally burned an Amish furniture store at 2130 Stephenson Road on Jan. 25. The state police Troop C Fire Marshal Unit out of Ridgway identified the suspects as Nicholas Leone, 22, of Creekside, and Dylan D’Alessio, 19, of Plumville. The store, described as a relative new business venture owned by Roman Blyer, of Smicksburg, was located in a pole barn-type structure that was gutted by flames.

Leone and D’Alessio were arraigned Tuesday before Homer City Magisterial District Judge Susanne V. Steffee and placed in the Indiana County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond apiece, pending a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Oct. 15.

State police said both suspects were members of the Plumville District Volunteer Fire Department at the time of the fire, but Leone later quit that department and has applied to join the Creekside Volunteer Fire Company. (His application is ‘pending’)

There have been 11 fires classified as “arson” or “undetermined pending investigation” in the region around Plumville since August 2018.

https://www.indianagazette.com/news/firefighters-charged-with-setting-furniture-store-ablaze/article_e56f72c2-dfd7-11e9-8c21-23105405deaa.html