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Career Criminal Charged In Torching Of Reservist's L.I. Home

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) - A convicted burglar on parole stands accused of setting fire to an Air National Guard reservist from Long Island on duty overseas.

Harry Fleischmann, Jr. is being held on $1 million bail for allegedly setting fire to Eric Carver's East Patchogue home on December 27. In convicted, he could face life in prison.

Fleischmann is accused of stealing Carver's SUV, off-duty handgun, holster, ammunition, and generator before setting the home on fire.

Career Criminal Charged In Torching Of Reservist's L.I. Home

The home is now unlivable.

"This is a guy who has been in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and then we have a person like this who is doing everything he can to harm us," District Attorney Thomas Spota said Tuesday.

Carver was on his tenth tour of duty when the crime occurred back in December. He is currently serving in Africa.

Fleischmann has already spent ten years behind bars for a number of other crimes.

"Unit detectives have linked Fleischmann to several commercial burglaries that occurred earlier this month and last year of gas stations in East Patchogue, Brookhaven, Islandia, and Rocky Point, and burglaries of a Medford car wash and a Bayport liquor store," the DA's office said in a statement announcing the arrest.

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