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Alvin Frank Chambers III, 31, of Maytown, entered an open guilty plea to two first-degree felony counts of arson of an inhabited building or structure and related charges in Lancaster County Court on September 2, 2022, according to a release by the DA on Thursday, Nov. 17.
Emergency crews were called to the first fire “burning in a yard that was beginning to ignite the exterior of a home” in the 500 block of Poplar Street on Jan. 4 at approximately 6:42 a.m., as stated in a release by the police at the time.
The following morning crews were called back to the home for a second fire on the balcony outside of a second floor apartment, at approximately 4:38 a.m., according to police.
It's now known that children were sleeping in the home at the time of the fires, the DA's release detailed.
As the flames of the fire shot up from the balcony towards the door of the second floor apartment, Alvin Chambers was spotted nearby, according to the release.
A victim of the fire identified Chambers from a dating site, as he was inside of a red Honda SUV parked near Laurel and Lafayette Streets nearby the fire shortly after it had been discovered, according to the police.
Officer Jonathan Reppert attempted to stop Chambers but he fled at a high rate of speed, according to the release.
Later that day Officer Blake Walhberg of the East Lampeter Township Police Department found him in the area of the 2200 block of US Route 30 but he again gave chase and eluded capture, police say.
Investigations by the Lancaster City fire department fire marshall John Pugliese found both fires were not accidental and were incendiary in nature, according to the release.
A warrant was issued for Chambers’ arrest, and he called a detective admitting to the crimes.
Chambers also pleaded guilty to 11 second-degree misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person, two second-degree misdemeanor charges of fleeing or attempting to elude an Officer, two third-degree misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief, and two third-degree misdemeanor charges of loitering and prowling at nighttime.
Chambers had previously pleaded guilty to a DUI, possession of drugs, and moving violations and related traffic offenses in 2015, 16 and 17, according to court documents. He served time for his DUI, according to court documents.
The Maytown man was sentenced Tuesday to 3 ½ to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation for intentionally setting those fires
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