Joseph Tomasello, 52, pleaded guilty to separate incidents involving a fire in Hammonton and an unauthorized radio transmission from a fire department vehicle.
MAYS LANDING, N.J. — A 52-year-old Hammonton man has been sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison following two unusual criminal incidents involving a blowtorch and a fire department vehicle.
Joseph Tomasello received the sentence Tuesday, October 20, 2026, before Superior Court Judge Joseph Levin, according to information released by prosecutors.
Tomasello pleaded guilty on August 14 to third-degree arson and third-degree burglary stemming from separate incidents in December 2025 and January 2026.
Witness Recorded Blowtorch Incident
The first incident occurred December 22, 2025, when Hammonton police responded to the area of 8th Street and South 2nd Road after receiving a report of a man starting a fire.
According to prosecutors, a woman told responding officers that she witnessed a man using a blowtorch to set fire to the ground.
The witness also provided police with video of the incident.
While officers were still at the scene, they spotted Tomasello carrying a blowtorch.
He was arrested at the scene.
Unauthorized Radio Transmission Leads to Second Arrest
Just over a month later, Tomasello became involved in another incident, this time concerning a fire department vehicle and its radio equipment.
On January 31, 2026, New Jersey State Police were notified that Hammonton police officers had contacted the Collings Lake Fire Department over the radio.
An unauthorized individual responded to the transmission and identified himself as Joseph Tomasello.
Around the time of the radio transmission, fire department personnel looked outside and saw a man standing near a fire department truck that contained the radio.
The man then fled.
Police responding to the vehicle discovered a pair of jeans on its front seat.
The following day, authorities located Tomasello in the Monroe Township area.
According to prosecutors, Tomasello admitted that he had removed his pants inside the truck and made the unauthorized radio transmission.
He was arrested and subsequently detained following a February 10 detention hearing.
Guilty Pleas and Prison Sentence
On August 14, Tomasello pleaded guilty to third-degree arson and third-degree burglary.
Judge Joseph Levin sentenced him Tuesday to five years in New Jersey State Prison.
Assistant Prosecutor Brooke Melissa Hoffner represented the state.
The release did not specify whether the five-year sentence covers both offenses concurrently or includes any additional conditions.
The cases involved investigations by the Hammonton Police Department and New Jersey State Police.
Source: Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, October 20, 2026, sentencing announcement.
