Firebug Heading To Prison For Torching Cars in South Ozone Park

Firefighters extinguish a car fire. Photo via Andrew Magill.

By Christina Carrega

A Queens man is expected to get sentenced to up to eight years in prison for setting nine cars on fire throughout his own neighborhood.

Evan Person admitted to Queens Supreme Court Justice John Zoll on Tuesday that on three separate occasions between December 2017 and February, he torched cars in the 116th Avenue vicinity, 124th Street and 109th Avenue in South Ozone Park.

“In pleading guilty, the defendant has now admitted to committing these reckless acts of arson,” said Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. “He damaged these vehicles and knowingly endangered the lives of his fellow neighbors and firefighters, who responded to the scene of these fires.”

Person, 29, is expected to get sentenced to four to eight years in prison on Dec. 13 for the third-degree arson charge.

On Dec. 15, 2017, Person torched a 2006 Nissan, a 1998 Mercedes Benz, a 2000 Ford Excursion, a 2009 Nissan and a 2014 Mercedes Benz in various areas of 116th Avenue.

On Feb. 6, Person admitted to setting a 1998 Honda Civic, a 2003 Mitsubishi, and a 2008 Kia ablaze around 124th Street and on Feb. 16 setting a 2004 Buick on fire in front of a home on 109th Avenue.