MECHANICS WANTED
Temper tantrum and booze assures alleged firebug a future behind bars or maybe in bars
Officials say that the night of the fire, Ruffini was charged by the Talbot Sheriff’s Office for motor vehicle and alcohol-related charges after getting into a disagreement with family at the Woodland Circle address.
EASTON, MD. – In a case which is likely to result in a court-ordered review of the amount of booze a man accused of torching his own pickup can handle, which, from his court records reveals likely not much, fire marshals have closed an investigation with the man’s arrest.
Maryland State Fire Marshals have charged an Easton man with torching his own vehicle after he had been arrested and the vehicle stored by a Sheriff’s deputy.
Investigators report that on June 15, 2018, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Upper Eastern Region was notified by the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office about a vehicle fire that occurred on June 14, 2018.
Investigators say that the fire occurred at 7768 Woodland Circle, Easton, Talbot County. Deputy State Fire Marshals responded to the where the vehicle had been stored by the Sheriff’s Office and was able to examine the burned 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck owned by Antonio Joseph Ruffini, 21, of 507 Hollyday Street, Easton, Md.
At the conclusion of the origin and cause examination, investigators determined the truck was intentionally set on fire and developed the owner, Ruffini as a suspect.
Officials say that the night of the fire, Ruffini was charged by the Talbot Sheriff’s Office for motor vehicle and alcohol-related charges after getting into a disagreement with family at the Woodland Circle address.
Deputy State Fire Marshal C. Fenzel applied for and received an arrest warrant for Ruffini. They located and arrested Ruffini on June 18, 2018, without incident and he was charged with Arson 2nd Degree and Malicious Burning. If convicted of both charges, Antonio Joseph Ruffini could face 25 years in prison and/or $35,000 in fines.
Taxpayers will be overjoyed to learn that they will be paying for the legal bills of this firebug via the Maryland Public Defender system. Ruffini was released from jail on an unsecured bond of $4,000 after being held without bond one day earlier.
St. Michaels Police Officer Adams charged Ruffini with underage possession of alcohol on Jan. 2, 2016 resulting in Ruffini pleading guilty and paying a fine of $145.00 on March 1, 2016.
Fruitland Police Officer J. Jackson charged Ruffini with underage possession of alcohol on April 3, 2016, and a plea deal with the Wicomico County States Attorney ended with a verdict of Probation Before Judgement on June 14, 2016, and a fine of $100.00.
Talbot County Sheriff Deputy Jordan Towers charged Ruffini with failing to locate and notify a property owner of the damage he caused in a crash and in a plea deal with the Talbot County States Attorney Scott Patterson, Ruffini entered a guilty plea resulting in a verdict of Probation Before Judgement on July 12, 2016 and a fine of $242.50.
