Gardiner Man Charged With Two Counts Of Arson

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has charged a Gardiner man with burning down the camper trailer in Gardiner that his former employer lived in.

According to Maine Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland, Joseph Manganella, 35, was arrested on two counts of arson Friday evening at his apartment at 38 Water St.

Manganella has spent the weekend at the Kennebec County Jail and will likely be in court either today or tomorrow.

The July 5^th fire destroyed the camper trailer of Eric and Kristie Baker , which was located on a house lot off Blueberry Hill Lane.  The couple lived there with their three children, but no one was home when the fire broke out, McCausland said. Fire Investigators say the fire likely was to cover up the theft of tools  from the camper.   Manganella once worked for Baker as a roofer.   Manganella is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to McCausland.