NJ woman sentenced to 11 years in prison for arson

MORRISTOWN, NJ (Morris County) – A former Branchburg woman was sentenced to 11 years in prison after setting fire to a townhouse in Mine Hill Township, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll.

A Morris County jury on June 7 found Shonette St. Clair, 46, guilty of two counts second-degree aggravated arson, second-degree attempt to cause widespread injury or damage, and simple assault following a six-day trial. The jury found her not guilty of fourth-degree criminal mischief, Carroll said.

Evidence at trial established that on March 8, 2021, first responders were dispatched to a residential structure fire on Joseph Lane in Mine Hill Township. Upon arrival, they located an active fire in a multi-unit townhome, Carroll said.

One of the residents, who reported having escaped through a window, was located outside the unit. The resident was transported to the hospital for medical treatment, including smoke inhalation, Carroll said.

After the fire was extinguished, investigators determined cause of the fire to be incendiary and identified four points of origin on the exterior of the residence, Carroll said.

St. Clair was later identified as a suspect and subsequent investigation revealed her to have been in the area of the residence at the time of the fire, Carroll said.

The Honorable Ralph E. Amirata, J.S.C. on Aug. 11 sentenced St. Clair, imposing an aggregate term of 11 years in New Jersey State Prison. The first six years of the sentence are subject to the parole ineligibility terms of the No Early Release Act, Carroll said.