An arrest has been made in a July arson case that resulted in a teenager being hospitalized with serious injuries and caused significant property damage. Jack Viola, 18, turned himself in this week after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Viola faces two felony charges: arson causing great bodily harm and second-degree arson to a structure, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of July 10. According to investigators, Viola was with a group fishing overnight when one of the victims ran out of gas. As the victim was attempting to refuel their truck on a residential street, some gasoline spilled onto their clothes and the roadway.
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Investigators state that video evidence shows Viola allegedly intentionally setting the gasoline-soaked ground on fire using a lighter. The flames rapidly spread, engulfing the victim and their truck. The fire also destroyed a nearby residential mailbox.
The immediate aftermath of the incident led to the hospitalization of the victim.
Following the incident, Viola and his family reportedly moved to California. The CCSO Fugitive Warrants Bureau tracked Viola’s whereabouts and worked with law enforcement agencies in California to secure his return to Collier County.
Viola arrived back in the county and turned himself in on September 30 at the Naples Jail Center. He is now being held to face the charges related to the destructive July fire.
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