Geneva man arrested for falsely reporting fires

On 10.12.2012, Roger A. Chilson, Age 23, 97 Sherrill Street Apartment, Geneva, New York was charged with four counts of Falsely Reporting an Incident a class E Felony. Over a period of several months Defendant Chilson called and reported several structure fires in the City of Geneva that caused action and response by the Geneva Fire Department when no fire was actually present. Defendant Chilson was held for arraignment. Geneva Fire Department assisted in the investigation.NYS PENAL LAW: A person is guilty of falsely reporting an incident in the second degree when, knowing the information reported, conveyed or circulated tobe false or baseless, he or she:1. Initiates or circulates a false report or warning of an alleged occurrence or impending occurrence of a fire, explosion, or the release of a hazardous substance under circumstances in which it is not unlikely that public alarm or inconvenience will result;2. Reports, by word or action, to any official or quasi-official agency or organization having the function of dealing with emergencies involving danger to life or property, an alleged occurrence or impending occurrence of a fire, explosion, or the release of a hazardous substancewhich did not in fact occur or does not in fact exist.