Robber And Arsonist In Crofton, Gambrills Fires Sentenced

CROFTON, MD — A 20-year-old Crofton man accused of setting a series of arson fires in the Crofton and Gambrills area has been sentenced for the blazes and for robbing a 7-Eleven store, according to prosecutors. Nicholas Edward Bukoski of Ayr Court was sentenced to 15 years in prison after entering a plea of guilty on October 18, 2018, to one count of armed robbery and one count of second-degree arson.

"Mr. Bukoski terrorized the citizens of Anne Arundel County by robbing a local establishment and setting multiple fires destroying private property," said Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess in a news release. "His sentence is just and should provide a sense of relief to the community as he will be serving a lengthy prison sentence and will no longer be a danger to society."

The charges stem from a series of arson fires in the Crofton and Gambrills area beginning in the spring of 2017 through January of 2018.

Authorities say Bukoski set fire to an abandoned house in the 1000 block of Route 3 South in Gambrills on Oct. 21, 2017.

On Jan. 11, 2018, Anne Arundel County Police say he robbed the 7-Elevenin the 1000 block of Crain Highway. Bukoski entered the store holding a knife and demanding money. The clerk complied, and gave Bukoski about $200 in a store plastic bag. He then fled the store; there were no injuries.

Days later, on Jan. 21, 2018, a series of fires were reported in the area of Route 3 and John Hopkins Road in Gambrills. They included a Dumpster and trash can fire in the Villages of Waugh Chapel, a trashcan fire in front of the PETCO, a second Dumpster fire behind Grumps Café on John Hopkins Road, and a dog waste collection station set on fire near Vineyard Land and Riedel Road, according to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. Surveillance footage showed the suspect and clothing in those fires matched the description given of the 7-Eleven armed robber, prosecutors said.

When fire investigators obtained video surveillance footage from several local businesses, they released it to the public on Jan. 29, 2018. Based on the video footage, Bukoski was identified as the arsonist. He was arrested by Anne Arundel County Police on unrelated charges in April 2018 and arson charges were later filed.

In September 2018, Bukoski pleaded guilty to a federal charge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to a charge of transmitting threats by interstate commerce.