NEWS RELEASE

Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office 401 Grand Street Paterson, NJ 07505 (973) 881-4800

ARREST MADE IN CONNECTION WITH AUGUST 3, 2020 ARSON INVESTIGATION

PATERSON, NEW JERSEY: August 13, 2020

Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora, and Paterson Fire Chief Brian McDermott announce that based upon an investigation by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Paterson Fire Department, and the Paterson Police Department, Yanit Valdez, 37 years old from Paterson, New Jersey, was arrested on August 13, 2020 in relation to an investigation that began on August 3, 2020.

Ms. Valdez is charged with two counts of Aggravated Arson, Second Degree; and four counts of Aggravated Assault, Third Degree.

On August 3, 2020, police and fire personnel responded to a report of a fire at 40 Cianci Street in the City of Paterson. The structure consists of a multi-unit residential apartment building with commercial space on the street level. The fire extended throughout the structure of 28 - 42 Cianci Street. All occupants were able to safely evacuate; however, sixty residents were displaced and four Paterson firefighters were treated for minor injuries at Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center Paterson. Based on the joint investigation, Ms. Valdez was charged.

The sentencing exposure on Second Degree Aggravated Arson is 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison, and one of the charges would require Ms. Valdez to serve 85% of any prison term before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act, along with 3 years of parole supervision. The sentencing exposure on Third Degree Aggravated Assault is 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison.

Ms. Valdez will appear at Central Judicial Processing Court on August 14, 2020.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or contact the Paterson Police Department at (973) 321-1111.

For media inquiries concerning this case, contact Senior Assistant Prosecutor Julie Serfess of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office at [email protected] or at (973) 837-7718.

Yanit Valdez