Bethlehem Man Charged with Setting Brush Fires

A Bethlehem man and an Allentown woman are charged with using a blue "calico" fireplace lighter and emergency flares to set or attempt to set fires Friday and Saturday in South Whitehall, Upper Macungie and North Whitehall.

The two also are charged with criminal mischief for allegedly spraypainting properties in South Whitehall and the surrounding area.

Cory Praschyk, 21, of 1570 Chaucer Lane, Bethlehem, and Nicolle Balliet, 19, of 1030 N. 23rd St., Allentown, are each charged with arson and related offenses, criminal mischief, possessing an instrument of crime and dangerous burning.

According to the arrest affidavit:

* Praschyk and Balliet were seen in the area of two brush fires on Friday and Saturday, April 6 and April 7. 

* They activated a "blue warning light" at the brush fire on Friday in an attempt to appear to be a first responder when police arrived on the scene. 

It was not immediately know if the two are volunteer firefighters or fire police officers.

* An officer who saw the same blue vehicle at brush fires over the two days had detained them, according to South Whitehall police.

* Praschyk and Balliet admitted to attempting to set a barn on fire in Upper Macungie by propelling a flare into the barn's second-floor storage area. The barn is owned by Jan Willcox, of 5179 Cetronia Road. 

According to the court records, Praschyk and Balliet also are charged with acts of criminal mischief and vandalism for in South Whitehall and Upper Macungie.

The Berks-Lehigh Regional police and the state police at Bethlehem agreed to consolidate charges as "a continuous course of conduct," following approval by the Lehigh County District Attorney's office.

South Whitehall police said they had responded to several brush fires in the area of Minnich Road, Albright Avenue, Focht Avenue and Cedar Crest Boulevard.

Praschyk and Balliet were arraigned before District Judge Patricia Engler, who set bail at $10,000 each.