Monday, April 20, 2009

MORRISTOWN: A 64-year-old Long Hill man is in the Morris County Jail in lieu of a $60,000 bail after a prosecutor's Arson Unit detective and local police detectives connected him to four unsolved fires between mid-March and last week, Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi said today.

Morton James "Jimmy" Cullinan was charged with four counts of third-degree arson for the blazes he allegedly set using lit cigarettes in the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Bianchi said. Three of the fires were set in the Harding sections of the 8,700-acre refuge in Morris and Somerset counties. One was set in Long Hill Township, Bianchi said, noting the fires caused property damage, but no injuries.

Bianchi said, "I applaud the tenacious efforts of Morris County Prosecutor's Office Detective Chris Kimker, Harding Twp. Police Lt. Dan Nunn and Long Hill Twp. Detective Gary Bauer. This cooperative partnership led to the arrest of an alleged arsonist."

Bianchi also credited the Morris County Sheriff's CrimeStoppers program for giving law enforcement crucial information. "This is an extremely valuable program that once again is responsible for solving crime," he said.

Detective Chris Kimker, who is a member of the prosecutor's arson and environmental crimes unit, worked with Harding police Lt. Dan Nunn and Long Hill police Detective Gary Bauer to solve the case. The CrimeStoppers tip put Cullinan on the police radar screen. Following the most recent fire set April 17, Bauer spotted him in the area.

Cullinan was arrested Friday night by the three officers.

Despite these pending charges every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his or her rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitution and relevant state law.