East Windsor Man Enters Guilty Plea in Manchester Attempted Arson Case

MANCHESTER, CT — An East Windsor man who tried to set a Manchester house on fire with gasoline has entered a guilty plea for attempted first-degree arson, court records indicate.

The Hartford Courant reported that Zachary Reddick, 25, of East Windsor, pleaded guilty under the Alford doctrine.

He was arrested in March.

Such pleas mean that a defendant does not agree with the state's evidence against him or her in its entirety, but also admits prosecutors likely have enough evidence for a conviction if the case goes to trial.

According to court records, the sentence is a dozen years in prison, suspended after four years served.

Reddick is also subject to five years of probation, according to court records.

In a written statement, Manchester Police Capt. Christopher Davis said officers were dispatched to 76 Devon Drive around 12:30 a.m. upon a report that an individual was seen pouring gasoline onto the residence before attempting to light it on fire.

The fire did not ignite, and the suspect then walked away, Davis said.

Four people were inside the house at the time; there were no reported injuries, Davis said.
Through investigation, police identified Reddick as the suspect, and arrested him without incident at his home, Davis said.

"At this point, the motive appears to be related to an earlier theft from the suspect while attending a get together at the victim’s residence," Davis wrote.

Photo courtesy of Manchester Police Department