Southampton Man Found Guilty of Burning Down Bucks County Strip Mall

PHILADELPHIA - An Upper Southampton man was convicted in federal court Tuesday on several charges stemming from a fire that destroyed four Bucks County businesses nearly three years ago.

Jonathan P. Wiktorchik, Jr., 59, of Churchville Road, was convicted of arson, mail fraud, and making false statements to federal investigators following after a week-long trial before U.S. District Judge Robert F. Kelly in Philadelphia.

The arson occurred at 2540 - 48 Mountain View Road in Ottsville, Nockamixon Township, Bucks County, PA on March 30, 2008, at approximately 2:30 a.m.

Investigators said Wiktorchik set a fire using gasoline and destroyed not only his business, the Bucks County Chiropractic Center, which he co-owned with his wife, but four others in the adjoining strip mall.

After the fire, he filed an insurance claim with Maryland Casualty Company, t/a Zurich American Insurance Company (“Zurich”), for which he received a partial payment of $50,000.

According to a press release from the U.S. attorney's office, on three separate occasions during the investigation Wiktorchik made false statements to federal investigators.

First, they said Wiktorchik claimed he was on a camping trip with his son during the time the fire was set. They said he subsequently admitted to investigators that this explanation was false, and that he left the camp site in the early morning hours to check on his business.

However, investigators said Wiktorchik then told them that when he arrived at the business, he was assaulted by Spanish speaking gang members, who, he claimed, caused the explosion and fire.

Following the verdict, Wiktorchik's bail was immediately revoked.

Wiktorchik faces a mandatory-minimum prison term of 15 years, with a maximum possible sentence of 63 years, and a fine of up to $1.5 million. Sentencing is scheduled for June 3.

To view a copy of Wiktorchik's grand jury indictment, click on the attached PDF file.