Three charged in Bristol Township arson and conspiracy case

Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn announced three men have been charged in connection with a 2025 arson occurring on August 8 at a residence on Cedar Avenue in the Croydon section of Bristol Township.

Gavin Ross Montoya, 27, of the 800 block of Oak Avenue, Croydon; Charles William Vandenberg, 50, of the 1000 block of William Avenue, Croydon; and Thomas J. Parker, 36, of the 900 block of Oak Avenue, Croydon, were charged following an extensive investigation by the Bristol Township Police Department.

The investigation found Montoya early that day intentionally set on fire a van which was parked in the driveway outside a home at 713 Cedar Avenue.  The fire quickly spread to the side of the house. The investigation also found Vandenberg solicited Montoya to set the van on fire and that Parker drove Montoya to and from the scene of the fire with the belief that Montoya was going to rob one of the occupants of the home.

All five occupants of the residence, who were asleep at the time, were evacuated safely.