An Egg Harbor Township man has been charged with attempted murder and four counts of aggravated arson after trying to burn down a Lakewood home.

Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer slapped James Preston, 25, with the charges after an extensive investigation into the incident.

On August 22nd, Lakewood Police Department responded to a report of a fire at a residence in Lakewood. An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Ocean County Fire Marshals Office, and New Jersey State Fire Marshals K-9 Unit, determined that the fire had been intentionally set utilizing an ignitable liquid and an open flame.

Further investigation determined that Preston did, in fact, intentionally set the fire while the residence was occupied by three individuals.

Preston was arrested by the United States Marshals Service on August 31, 2020, and is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.