A Maytown man was sentenced Tuesday to 3 ½ to 10 years in state prison followed by 10 years of probation for intentionally setting fire to a building in Lancaster city on two separate occasions in January of 2022.

Alvin F. Chambers III, of the first block of W. High Street, entered an open guilty plea to two first-degree felony counts of arson of an inhabited building or structure and related charges in Lancaster County Court on September 2, 2022.

On January 4, 2022, around 6:42 a.m., Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Poplar Street for a fire burning in a yard which began to ignite the exterior of a home.

On January 5, 2022, around 4:38 a.m., a second fire was located on the balcony of a second-floor apartment at the same property in the 500 block of Poplar Street. A victim, who had previously met Chambers through an online dating site, recognized him in the area.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Fetterman prosecuted the case and stated there were young children sleeping in one of the homes that was set on fire in asking Lancaster County Judge Margaret Miller for a state-prison sentence.

Defense counsel argued to keep the defendant in county prison.

Lancaster City Fire Department Marshall John Pugliese responded to both fires and found that the fires were deliberate and incendiary in nature.

Officers spotted Chambers inside a red Honda SUV near Laurel and Lafayette Streets a short time after the second fire was discovered. Chambers fled at a high rate of speed and eluded two different Officers attempting to make an arrest.

Video footage from the Lancaster Safety Coalition, local businesses and homes showed Chambers’ vehicle in the area.

A warrant was issued for Chambers’ arrest, and he called a detective admitting to the crimes.

Chambers also pleaded guilty to 11 second-degree misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person, two second-degree misdemeanor charges of fleeing or attempting to elude an Officer, two third-degree misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief, and two third-degree misdemeanor charges of loitering and prowling at nighttime.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Detective Toby Hickey filed charges.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean McBryan, semcbryan@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @SeanMcBryanLanc.