An Egg Harbor Township man who allegedly set a pair of pants on fire and then threw them on his sleeping girlfriend was ordered held in jail Tuesday.
John Simpson, 34, has a history of domestic issues, including restraining orders filed by two other women, according to information released at his detention hearing.
She had burns to both legs, bruising on her forehead and shoulder, and complained of a lump on the back of her head, according to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by BreakingAC.
The victim alleged Simpson was out of heroin and lashed out with violence.
He lit a pair of her leggings on fire and then threw them into the truck where she was, the affidavit states. He then pulled her out of the vehicle and threw her on the ground multiple times.
Simpson also smashed out the rear driver's side window and broke off the driver's side mirror, she told police.
But Simpson was not even there and knew nothing about a fire, his defense attorney told the judge.
Instead, Kevin Moses claimed the victim drove the truck drunk and crashed it long before calling police and giving them a story about Simpson attacking her.
He said that the victim has pending charges for assaulting a police officer and kicking out the window of police car.
Assistant Prosecutor Harlee Stein said the burning pants were recovered, and that there would likely be much more if there had been a crash.
"This is a pretty wild story for someone to make up because they would have been intoxicated and driving a vehicle," she said.
She pointed out that Simpson's somewhat significant criminal history is mostly tied to domestic violence.
There have been six restraining orders taken out against him, with four currently dismissed. Neither of the remaining two are by the current victim.
Judge Pam D'Arcy ordered Simpson held. He will remain in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending the outcome of his case.
