Essex County Man Convicted, Set Fire To Strip Club: Prosecutor

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — An Essex County jury convicted an Irvington man of aggravated arson after he set fire to a strip club in Irvington by hurling Molotov cocktails and a gas can into the building, authorities announced Thursday.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office (ECPO), a jury convicted Steve Cotto, 61, of Irvington, of aggravated arson on Feb. 7 following a trial.

Prosecutor’s said that on July 17, 2016, the Irvington police and fire departments responded to Paradizio Gentlemen’s Club on the 1000-block of Clinton Avenue after receiving reports of a fire.

Quick action from emergency responders helped to contain the flames before they spread to nearby residential properties, prosecutors stated.

After the blaze was extinguished, the ECPO crash and fire unit was called in to investigate due to the “suspicious nature” of the fire. Following an investigation, it was determined that a patron of the club had set fire to the structure by throwing Molotov cocktails and a gas can into the building, prosecutors said.

According to the ECPO:

“It was later determined that the man setting fire to the club was Steve Cotto, who had been seen leaving the club earlier that evening. While being questioned about the fire, [Cotto] accused the club of robbing other patrons. The state’s theory at trial was that he believed he had been robbed.”

Cotto faces a minimum of five years in New Jersey state prison. He must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole, prosecutors stated.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 12, 2019, prosecutors said.

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