Two Christendom College students charged in campus dorm arson

Christendom College was the site of an early-morning Dec. 6 dorm fire resulting in charges against two male students of the college. Royal Examiner File Photo

Two Christendom College students have been arrested and charged on multiple counts related to a fire reported in a dorm on the college campus in the early-morning hours of Thursday, December 6.

According to a joint Sunday evening press release from Warren County Fire and Rescue and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Ryan Farrell, 23, and Christopher Shanahan, 20, were arrested and charged following an investigation into a fire reported at 5:40 a.m. Thursday morning. According to records of RSW Regional Jail, Farrell was booked at 2:07 p.m. on Friday, December 7, Shanahan about 25 minutes later.

Farrell, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and Shanahan of Danville, Pennsylvania were both charged with one count each of the following offenses:

Ryan Farrell, 23, of Bloomsburg, PA – Mug Shot Courtesy RSW Regional Jail

§ 18.2-80. Arson, burning of an occupied building; § 18.2-81 – Arson, burning or destroying personal property; § 18.2-121 – Vandalism, entering property of another for purpose of damaging it; § 18.2-137 – Trespass with intent to damage property or interfere with property rights; § 18.2-96 – Petit larceny, under $200; and § 18.2-415 – Disorderly conduct in public places.

In addition, Shanahan was also charged with one count of Underage Possession of Alcohol, §4.1-305. The arson and vandalism charges are felonies, the others misdemeanors. Both Shanahan and Farrell are currently being held without bond at RSW Regional Jail.

Christopher Shanahan, 20, of Danville, PA – Mug Shot Courtesy RSW Regional Jail

The press release on the incident states: “On Thursday, December 6, 2018, at 5:40 a.m., the Warren County Department of Fire and Rescue Services responded to a reported fire alarm activation at 65 Christendom Drive on the campus of Christendom College.

“Fire and Rescue units arrived on the scene of a three-story dormitory building which had been evacuated by its occupants. A fire was determined to have occurred in the second-floor bathroom of the complex and was extinguished by the building occupants before the arrival of the fire department.

“The cause of the fire was investigated by the Warren County Fire Marshal’s Office which was determined to have been a result of an act of arson. Investigators discovered that additional non-fire related damages had occurred throughout the room and requested the assistance of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.”

No further detail as to a target or motive was available at press time.

According to jail officials, both Farrell and Shanahan were scheduled for video hearings from jail on Monday, December 10. Both were in Warren County General District Court on Tuesday, December 11 for bond hearings.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico at (540) 636-3830 or Sheriffs Officer Investigator Brad Pugh at (540) 635-7100.

Social Media photo posts attributed to Ryan Farrell

Social Media photo posts attributed to Ryan Farrell