An Arlington man avoided trial by pleading guilty to arson charges related to two fires at Market Basket at Gloucester Crossing last year.
Matthew Johnson, 36, who worked at Market Basket at the time of the fires, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in Middleton Jail with credit for 117 days served, according to court records.
Johnson was also sentenced Monday by Lawrence Superior Court Judge Matthew Nestor to five years probation with a series of conditions, including staying away from the Market Basket at 101 Gloucester Crossing Road.
He was scheduled to go on trial Monday in Lawrence Superior Court for burning a building and attempting to burn a building, two felonies.
Johnson was charged with setting two separate fires at the Market Basket on March 14, 2025. One fire was started in a pallet of paper towels and another in a cardboard trash compactor.
No injuries were reported and with extensive ventilation and cleaning the store was able to open the next day.
As terms of probation, Johnson was also ordered to undergo mental health evaluation and treatment and not to use drugs and/or alcohol and submit to random screening. A restitution hearing will be scheduled at a later date, according to court records.
He was arrested after a joint investigation by the Gloucester Police Department, Gloucester Fire Department, and State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office. Surveillance video played a role in identifying Johnson as a suspect.
Staff Writer Jill Harmacinski may be contacted at jharmacinski@gloucestertimes.com