Juvenile Charged as an Adult in Arson Case in Salisbury, Maryland

Wicomico County, MD - Deputy State Fire Marshals have charged a 17-year-old Salisbury, Maryland, juvenile as an adult with numerous charges following an August 10, 2025, fire in Salisbury, Maryland. 

On August 10th at 9:54 A.M. the Salisbury Fire Department responded to the 1100 block of Grant Avenue for a structure fire.  The 1 alarm fire was controlled in 10 minutes by 20 firefighters.  Deputy State Fire Marshals were requested to conduct an investigation into the fire's origin and cause.

Deputy State Fire Marshals determined the fire was intentionally set (ARSON) and that the fire originated in one of the bedrooms of the one-story single-family dwelling. 

During the investigation, a 17-year-old male juvenile was identified as being responsible for intentionally setting the fire in the occupied home.  After consulting with the State's Attorney's Office in Wicomico County, it was determined that the juvenile would be charged as an adult.

On August 13, 2025 Deputy State Fire Marshals took the juvenile into custody and transported him to the Wicomico County Detention Center where he was seen by a court commissioner.  Due to the seriousness of the crimes, he was denied bail and was held at the Wicomico County Detention Center.   

The juvenile is facing the following charges:

• Arson 1st Degree
• Arson 2nd Degree
• 2 counts of attempted 1st Degree Murder
• 2 counts of Attempted 2nd Degree Murder
• 2 counts of Assault 1st Degree
• 2 counts of Assault 2nd Degree
• 2 counts of Reckless Endangerment
• Malicious Burning 1st Degree
• 2 counts of Malicious Destruction of Property over $1,000.00. 

The attempted murder and assault charges are a result of two occupants being inside the home at the time the juvenile set the fire.  A working smoke alarm is credited with alerting the occupants early and allowed them to escape the burning home uninjured. 

On August 14, 2025  the juvenile was seen before a District Court Judge for a Bond Review where the Judge ordered him to be held without bail.

If found guilty of the Attempted Murder charges he faces life in prison; if found guilty of the fire and assault charges he faces 199 years in prison and /or $105,000.00 in fines.

Disclaimer: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.