A Toms River man has been sentenced to three years in state prison following a string of violent and destructive incidents across Ocean County in 2024.

Charles Maulbeck, 51, appeared before Judge Guy P. Ryan on July 25, 2025, where he received three concurrent prison terms: three years for aggravated assault, three years for arson, and 18 months for criminal mischief.

The charges stem from three separate events:

• April 9, 2024 – Lacey Township:
  Maulbeck showed up uninvited at a home on Stuyvesant Street and attacked the homeowner with an axe. After the altercation, he walked to a nearby Dollar General and called the police. Officers found him with minor injuries and took him into custody following treatment at Community Medical Center. The homeowner declined medical attention.

• September 13, 2024 – Brick Township:
  Police officers on patrol discovered a house on Falkenberg Road engulfed in flames. Three firefighters were injured battling the blaze. Investigators from multiple agencies later determined the fire was intentionally set, and Maulbeck was identified as the arsonist. He was formally charged in October while already in jail on unrelated charges.

• September 14, 2024 – Lacey Township:
  One day after the Brick fire, Maulbeck returned to the same Stuyvesant Street home and smashed the rear window of a vehicle parked outside using a rock. He was arrested nearby and has remained in custody since that date.

The arson investigation involved a coordinated effort between the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad, High Tech Crime Squad, Brick Township Police, the Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit, and local fire safety officials.