MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ— A Manchester Township man was sentenced to seven years in New Jersey State Prison on Friday after pleading guilty to arson, bias intimidation, and criminal mischief in connection with a series of incidents that occurred in June 2023. Ron Carr, 35, received the sentence from the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., in Ocean County Superior Court.
Carr was sentenced to seven years for arson, five years for bias intimidation, and 18 months for two counts of criminal mischief. All sentences will run concurrently. Carr had entered guilty pleas to all charges on June 20, 2024.
The charges stem from events that began late on June 6, 2023, when Manchester Township Police responded to reports of vandalism at Pine Lake Park. Fourteen homes were defaced with spray paint, including Nazi symbols. Officers gathered a description of the suspect involved.
In the early hours of June 7, 2023, police were called back to Pine Lake Park after a house was destroyed by fire. The flames damaged three additional homes and spread to nearby woods. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Witnesses reported seeing an individual near the scene, matching the description of the vandalism suspect.
A short time later, officers apprehended Carr in the vicinity of Commonwealth Boulevard and Larchmont Street. Further investigation confirmed that Carr was responsible for both the vandalism and the arson. He was taken into custody without incident and has been held at the Ocean County Jail since his arrest.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer commended the efforts of law enforcement in swiftly bringing Carr to justice, stating that the sentence reflects the severity of Carr’s actions.