SUNBURY - A guilty plea proceeding scheduled Monday morning for a 24-year-old Shamokin man charged with intentionally setting four separate fires inside a vacant house has been continued until July 8 because a new attorney has been assigned to the case.
Marc Benjamin Jr., of 119 W. Montgomery St., is now being represented by Attorney Sue Schwartz, of Elysburg, who took over the case from former county Conflicts Counsel Michael Seward after he was appointed assistant district attorney last month.
The guilty plea proceeding was scheduled before Judge William H. Wiest, but was continued at Schwartz's request to allow her more time to review the case.
Benjamin was recommitted to the county jail.
He is charged by Shamokin police with intentionally setting four separate fires inside a vacant house at 224 W. Arch St., Shamokin, shortly after 11:30 p.m. Aug. 12 in an alleged attempt to cover up his theft of wiring from the property.
A city firefighter broke his leg attempting to extinguish the fire.
Charges include felonies of arson endangering persons, arson endangering a building, aggravated assault involving a firefighter, burglary, arson of an unoccupied building, criminal trespass and risking a catastrophe.