A Monmouth County man has pleaded guilty to the 2022 arson of a group of commercial vehicles belonging to a Wall business, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Friday.

On Tuesday, Jan. 2, Harcourt “Paul” S. Ward, 70, pleaded guilty to third-degree arson before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Henry P. Butehorn. As a result of his plea, the state has recommended that Ward serve three years in a New Jersey state prison upon sentencing, tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 22.

The guilty plea stems from an investigation that began on Monday evening, Sept. 26, 2022, at 10:11 p.m., when Wall Township police responded to a fire at the 1900 block of Atlantic Avenue. Upon arrival, Wall police and the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office found six vehicles on fire.

An investigation revealed that Ward, of Ward Realty and Insurance in Point Pleasant, was the person responsible for purposely setting the vehicles ablaze. The estimated cost of the damage caused by the fire was more than $1 million.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

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