Jury convicts man of attempted arson

MILFORD — A former Hemlock Farms resident was convicted in Pike County Court this week for attempting to commit the crime of arson. Judge Joseph F. Kameen presided over the jury trial presented by Assistant District Attorney Sarah A. Lavelle on Nov. 18 and 19. The jury found George Simonson, 68, of Deltona, Fla., guilty of the felony offenses; Attempt to Commit Arson, Endangering Persons, and Causing or Risking a Catastrophe, and a misdemeanor offense of Recklessly Endangering Another Person. The case presented in court demonstrated that George Simonson attempted to burn down his former residence in Hemlock Farms through the use of seven delayed ignition devices and gallons of gasoline meticulously placed throughout the home. On Dec. 29, 2007, in a joint effort between the state police from Blooming Grove and Dunmore, the state police bomb unit, Hemlock Farms Security and Hemlock Farms Fire and Rescue Company, the residence was discovered before ignition occurred. Through their investigation the police discovered a witness, who was told by the defendant earlier in December that he intended to burn the residence down. Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall Stephen Kaneski told the jury that if the fire ignited the residence it would have been prolific in nature and endangered neighbors and responders. Simonson will face sentencing before Kameen at a later date. Simonson was present for jury selection and the first day of his trial, however, did not appear on the final day of trial. After the jury returned its guilty verdict and upon motion of the Commonwealth, Judge Kameen revoked Simonson’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest. Lavelle stated that “the Pennsylvania State Police did an excellent job in collecting evidence that was crucial to the jury’s verdict.”