Juvenile Charged as an Adult with Numerous Crimes in Salisbury Arson Case

A 17-year-old from Salisbury has been charged as an adult in an arson case. According to the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal, the fire was intentionally set at a home on Grant Avenue on August 10th. The two occupants were unharmed. Fire investigators say the fire was set in a bedroom of the one-story home. The teen faces numerous charges including first-and second-degree arson, two counts each of attempted first- and second-degree murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and malicious burning. A working smoke alarm alerted the residents, allowing them to escape.  The juvenile, arrested August 13th, is being held without bail and faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Additional Information from the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal

Deputy State Fire Marshals have charged a 17-year-old Salisbury juvenile as an adult with numerous charges following an August 10^th fire in Salisbury.  On August 10^th at 9:54 A.M. the Salisbury Fire Department responded 1113 Grant Avenue for a structure fire.  The 1 alarm fire was controlled in 10 minutes by 20 firefighters.  Deputy State Fire Marshals were requested to conduct an investigation into the fire’s origin and cause.

Deputy State Fire Marshals determined the fire was intentionally set (ARSON) and that the fire originated in one of the bedrooms of the one-story single-family dwelling.  During the investigation a 17-year-old male juvenile was identified as being responsible for intentionally setting the fire in the occupied home.  After consulting with the State’s Attorney’s Office in Wicomico County it was determined that the juvenile would be charged as an adult.

On August 13, 2025 Deputy State Fire Marshals took the juvenile into custody and transported him to the Wicomico County Detention Center where he was seen by a court commissioner.  Due to the seriousness of the crimes, he was denied bail and was held at the Wicomico County Detention Center.   The juvenile is facing the following charges; Arson 1^st Degree, Arson 2^nd Degree, 2 counts of attempted 1^st Degree Murder, 2 counts of Attempted 2^nd Degree Murder, 2 counts of Assault 1^st Degree, 2 counts of Assault 2^nd Degree, 2 counts of Reckless Endangerment, Malicious Burning 1^st Degree, 2 counts of Malicious Destruction of Property over $1,000.00.  The attempted murder and assault charges are a result of two occupants being inside of the home at the time the juvenile set the fire.  A working smoke alarm is credited with alerting the occupants early and allowed them to escape the burning home uninjured. 

On August 14, 2025  the juvenile was seen before a District Court Judge for a Bond Review where the Judge ordered him to be held without bail.

If found guilty of the Attempted Murder charges he faces life in prison; if found guilty of the fire and assault charges he faces 199 years in prison and /or $105,000.00 in fines.