Jason Stokes has been found not guilty of arson in connection with an early-morning fire that erupted in his Endicott home while his wife and children slept.

The 41-year-old former village firefighter was acquitted Monday by a Broome County Court jury.

Jurors Friday afternoon had advised Judge Kevin Dooley they were unable to reach a verdict. But one juror was replaced by an alternate on Monday morning due to illness.

The "not guilty" verdict was reached shortly after the alternate juror was seated.

The fire at 410 East Main Street was reported around 2 a.m. on August 10. The four members of the Stokes family got out of the burning house without injury.

The blaze was quickly extinguished by firefighters and ruled suspicious by investigators.

The prosecution provided only circumstantial evidence in its case to convince the jury Stokes set the fire.

The defense maintained that state police investigators had developed no proof that Stokes was responsible for the blaze.

Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News (file)
Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News (file)
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