COURTHOUSE >> An East Norriton man faces jail time on an arson-related charge after he set fire to items during a domestic disturbance inside the home where he once resided.
Christopher Puleo, 37, formerly of the 2900 block of Michele Drive, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court on Monday to 11 ½ to 23 months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of arson in connection with the Jan. 31, 2016, incident at the Michele Drive residence.
Judge Garrett D. Page, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, also ordered Puleo to undergo a drug and mental health evaluation and to comply with all recommendations for treatment. Puleo also must pay $500 restitution in connection with the incident.
An investigation began about 6:45 p.m. when township police responded to the home for a reported domestic disturbance and found Puleo standing at the front door holding two knives and making over the hand stabbing motions, according to the arrest affidavit. Puleo then retreated back into the residence.
Police were able to evacuate two relatives from the home. At the time relatives told police they had protection from abuse orders against Puleo and that he was barred from the Michele Drive home, according to the criminal complaint.
Relatives said Puleo called the home earlier that day stating he wanted to collect his tools that were at the home and he threatened to come to the home and cause damage if his tools were moved. Puleo arrived at the home and entered and an argument ensued with his relatives, police said. Puleo brandished two knives in a threatening manner during the argument, police alleged.
“Throughout the incident, Puleo could be seen stabbing the doors and walls of the home creating damage through the home. Puleo was observed igniting items on fire and then throwing these items throughout the home, as well out the windows at police officers outside the home,” East Norriton Detective Michael D. Henricks alleged in the arrest affidavit.
Fire department personnel were escorted into the home by police while Puleo barricaded himself on an upper floor of the home, court documents alleged.
“While fire personnel attempted to extinguish the fire, Puleo would continue to ignite items in the home and throw the items at police and fire personnel as well as continued to throw ignited combustibles through the home,” Henricks alleged.
After a lengthy standoff, Puleo was taken into custody about 3:50 a.m., more than nine hours after police initially responded to the home. No one was injured during the incident.
After Puleo was removed from the home the township fire marshal determined there were numerous areas inside the home that had been set on fire. At the time, officials estimated the damage exceeded $5,000, according to the criminal complaint.
Puleo also pleaded guilty to a charge of terroristic threats in connection with a second incident at the Michele Drive residence on March 14, 2017. The judge, under the terms of a plea agreement, sentenced Puleo to three years’ probation in connection with that incident.
