Somerset County Man Sets Ex-Girlfriends Home On Fire, Minor Escapes Through Second Floor Window

A North Plainfield man has been arrested for allegedly taking an ipad from the home of his ex-girlfriend and then setting the house on fire with a minor still inside. 

According to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office: 

Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano, Somerset County Chief of County Detectives Timothy Fitzgerald and North Plainfield Police Chief William Parenti announce the arrest of Alexis Brito, age 22, of Park Avenue, Plainfield, New Jersey.

Somerset County Prosecutor Soriano states yesterday at 12:09 a.m. the North Plainfield Police and Fire Departments  responded to a structure fire on Manning Avenue. 

A minor who was in the home at the time was able to escape with minor injuries by jumping out of a second story window. Residents of adjacent dwellings were evacuated.

The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Task Force and Major Crime Units responded to assist North Plainfield authorities in the investigation.

The investigation revealed that defendant Brito intentionally set fire to the house. The house is the residence of his ex-girlfriend. Prior to setting the fire defendant Brito  removed  an iPad from the home.    

Defendant Brito will be charged with 3 counts of Aggravated Arson, 2nd Degree; Burglary, 3rd Degree; Theft, 4th Degree and Endangering The  Welfare of A Child, 3rd Degree. 

Defendant Brito was lodged in the Somerset County Jail and bail was set by the Honorable Anthony F. Picheca, Jr., J.S.C. at $100,000 cash only.  Judge Picheca also imposed a special no contact bail condition as part of defendant’s bail ordering him to have no contact with the residents of the dwelling, as well as the residents of the two adjacent neighboring dwellings on Manning Avenue.