Woman Sentenced to 11 Years for Residential Arson in Mine Hill; Found Guilty of Aggravated Arson

Following a six-day trial, Shonette St. Clair has been sentenced to prison for the incendiary fire that caused injuries and significant damage in March 2021.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Wharton Borough Police Chief Dave Young have announced the sentencing of Shonette St. Clair, age 46, to an 11-year term in New Jersey State Prison for crimes including second-degree Aggravated Arson.

The Trial and Sentencing:

Who: Shonette St. Clair, formerly of Branchburg, NJ.
What: Found guilty of two counts of second-degree Aggravated Arson, second-degree Attempt to Cause Widespread Injury or Damage, and disorderly persons Simple Assault. Not guilty of fourth-degree Criminal Mischief.
When: Sentenced on August 11, 2023, following a six-day trial that ended on June 7, 2023.
Where: Mine Hill, Morris County, NJ.
Why: Engaged in residential arson on March 8, 2021.
How: Sentenced by the Honorable Ralph E. Amirata, J.S.C., with the first six years subject to parole ineligibility under the No Early Release Act.

The Incident: On March 8, 2021, emergency first responders were dispatched to a fire at a multi-unit townhome on Joseph Lane in Mine Hill. A resident who escaped through a window was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. The fire was determined to be incendiary, with four points of origin on the residence's exterior. St. Clair was subsequently identified as a suspect and found to have been in the vicinity during the fire.

Prosecutor Carroll expressed gratitude to the Trial Team, including Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Sandler, Assistant Prosecutor Kyle Herda, and MCPO Detective Supervisor Luis Goncalves. Thanks were also extended to the agencies involved in the investigation, including the Wharton Borough Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Branchburg Police Department, New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office, Mine Hill Fire Department, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Arson and Environmental Crimes Unit.

This case serves as a stern reminder of the commitment of Morris County's legal and law enforcement community to hold individuals accountable for acts that threaten the safety and well-being of its residents. St. Clair's conviction and sentencing underscore the gravity with which crimes of this nature are viewed and dealt with in Morris County, New Jersey.