Man charged in Elkton 'malicious burning' incident

ELKTON — Prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a man who allegedly set fire to a woman’s tent and threw a burning blanket at her during an incident in Elkton, according to Cecil County District Court records.

Investigators identified the suspect as 38-year-old Timothy Paul Baer, whose address is listed as “unknown” in court records.

Baer stands accused of intentionally setting fire to the woman’s tent on March 27 during an incident in the 200 block of Mackall Street in Elkton. Baer and the purported victim reportedly were homeless at the time of the incident.

He also is accused of setting fire to a blanket and then throwing it at the woman, creating a “substantial risk of death and serious physical injury,” according to allegations made in a written criminal information that the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office filed against Baer on Friday.

Baer is charged with second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and second-degree malicious burning — all of which are misdemeanors that carry maximum sentences of 10 years, five years and 18 months respectively if convicted.

Court records show that a summons for Baer has been issued but, as of Tuesday afternoon, they do not indicate that Baer had been served a summons.

A preliminary inquiry in the criminal case against Baer is scheduled for July 29, according to court records.