Four People Arrested, Charged in Connection with Bergen County Arson

Four additional people were arrested in connection with the arson of a Bergen County house.

Johnathan E. Demarino, 41, of Sloatsburg, NY was arrested along with his son, Johnathan E. Demarino, Jr., 21, his daughter, Kaitlin R. Demarino, 20, and his daughter’s boyfriend, Dakota S. Degroat, 23, of Ringwood, NJ, in connection to the arson of a house fire in Mahwah on Nov. 19, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said.

When the Mahwah Police Department and Mahwah Fire Department arrived at 127 Lakeview Drive on the evening of Nov. 19, the house - which was under construction and was not connected to gas or electric - was fully engulfed in flames and was destroyed.

The Mahwah Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Major Crimes Unit, Arson Squad and a joint investigation ensued and determined the cause was arson, according to Molinelli.

The first person to be arrested in connection to the arson was Antonio Amodovar on Nov. 26. He is charged with one count each of aggravated arson, a second degree crime, burglary, a third degree crime, and failure to report and control a fire, a fourth degree crime. He remains in the Bergen County Jail.

As a result of the continued investigation, Demarino, Sr., who is also the former property owner of 127 Lakeview Drive, was arrested and charged with one count of arson for hire, a first degree crime, Molinelli said. Bail was set at $150,000 with no ten percent option. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of bail.

Kaitlin R. Demarino is charged with one count each of aggravated arson, a second degree crime, hindering apprehension, a third degree crime, and failure to report and control a fire, a fourth degree crime. Bail for Demarino was set at $100,000 with no ten percent option. She was turned over to the custody of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office at Bergen Regional Medical Center in lieu of bail.

Dakota Degroat is charged with one count each of aggravated arson, a second degree crime, hindering apprehension, a third degree crime, and failure to report and control a fire, a fourth degree crime, according to the prosecutor’s office. Bail was set at $100,000 with no ten percent option. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of bail.

Johnathan E. Demarino, Jr., was arrested and charged with one count of hindering apprehension, a third degree crime. He was released on his own recognizance.

Photo #1: Johnathan E. Demarino, Sr.

Photo #2: Johnathan E. Demarino, Jr.

Photo #3: Kaitlin Demarino

Photo #4: Dakota Degroat