Former Chandler Firefighter Eric Donald Jones, 43, was sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for setting fire to his ex-girlfriend’s home.

Jones was found guilty of five counts: arson of an occupied structure, a class 2 dangerous felony; endangerment, a class 6 dangerous felony; misconduct involving weapons, a class 4 felony; criminal damage, a class 4 felony; and assault, a class 3 misdemeanor.

During the early morning hours of April 18, 2021, Jones went to an ex-girlfriend’s house and poured gasoline on the outside of the home while a 15-year-old child was alone inside. He then used a Molotov to start the house on fire. An hour prior, Jones had assaulted the ex-girlfriend at a nearby business.  There was extensive damage in the garage and smoke damage inside the house. The 15-year-old was able to get out of the home before the fire reached him.

“This defendant was a public servant who was trusted by the community to protect residents from the very same damage he inflicted that night,” said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.   “Not only did he put those inside the home in grave danger, but fellow firefighters who responded were intentionally placed at risk. I’m proud of the team in my office that brought this defendant to justice.”