GOSHEN – A 39-year-old Port Jervis man has seen sentenced to two to six years in state prison and ordered to pay some $7,200 in restitution relative to his previous guilty plea to arson.
Steve Brewer was released without bail after his arrest as the charges were not bail-eligible as per the 2019 bail reform legislation.
Brewer later fled to Ohio, avoided apprehension for two years, and had to be extradited to answer the charges.
As alleged in statements made and documents filed in court, on April 18, 2021, Port Jervis Police responded to a fire in the area of Riverside Park. Brewer had been seen near a garbage can that was on fire and later spoke with the police, initially said two teenagers were responsible for the fire.
He then admitted he had set the fire that damaged a cargo container used to store bikes, helmets, and other items belonging to the Port Jervis Youth Program.
At the plea proceedings, he admitted to intentionally damaging the cargo container by starting a fire.
