Serial Arsonist Set Jersey Boardwalk Aflame 3 Times, Prosecutor Says

MAYS LANDING, NJ — A New York man who was on probation for two arson cases has been has been charged with arson in fires he set in Atlantic City has been charged with arson for the third time in a year, authorities said.

George Jones, 57, of Halfmoon, New York, was ordered to be held until trial by Superior Court Judge Joseph Levin during a detention hearing on Monday, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said.

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Jones was arrested June 1 when a person alerted Atlantic City police that someone had set several fires at and within the Korean War Memorial on the boardwalk, the prosecutor's office said.

Police officers found Jones standing over one fire and found another one nearby, the prosecutor's office said.

The June 1 arrest came 11 days after Jones was sentenced to 18 months of probation in connection with two arson cases from 2025 in which Jones had pleaded guilty.

On May 17, 2025, Atlantic City police were called to the Army National Guard Armory for a fire and found Jones had placed several items on the door handles of the main entrance and set them on fire, the prosecutor's office said.

Jones later admitted to setting the fire and to setting other fires on the boardwalk the day before, authorities said.

On June 9, 2025, police responded to a report of a fire on the boardwalk outside of Bally’s Hotel and Casino and saw Jones lighting flags on fire and leaving the fire to spread, authorities said. He had been kicked out of Bally's casino earlier that day but did not leave the area, despite being told to do so, the prosecutor's office said.

Instead, Jones stayed in the area of Bally’s and set the fire, they said.

He pleaded guilty in both cases and was sentenced to probation on May 21, the prosecutor's office said.

Jones is scheduled to appear for a pre-indictment conference on July 16 before Superior Court Judge Dorothy Garrabrant, authorities said.