Judge Resentences Philadelphia Man In Bowling Alley Arson
BRIDGETON, N.J. (AP) - The former owner of a southern New Jersey bowling alley who orchestrated an arson fire that destroyed a rival alley has been resentenced to the same term he received last year.
An appellate court had directed state Superior Court Judge Robert Malestein to reconsider the 15-year sentence he gave Steven Smink of Philadelphia. Smink was given 10 years for aggravated arson and five years for conspiracy to commit arson, and both terms were to be served consecutively.
The appellate judges didn't rule that the consecutive terms issued in April 2014 were improper, but they determined Malestein didn't fully explain his reasons for the decision.
In deciding to hand down the same sentence, Malestein said Friday that the aggravating factors clearly outweighed the mitigating factors when considering a sentence for Smink.
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