Philadelphia Man Resentenced to Same Term in Bowling Alley Arson

The former owner of a southern New Jersey bowling alley who orchestrated an arson fire that destroyed a rival alley has been resentenced to the same term he received last year.

An appellate court had directed state Superior Court Judge Robert Malestein to reconsider the 15-year sentence he gave Steven Smink of Philadelphia. Smink was given 10 years for aggravated arson and five years for conspiracy to commit arson, and both terms were to be served consecutively.

The appellate judges didn’t rule that the consecutive terms issued in April 2014 were improper, but they determined Malestein didn’t fully explain his reasons for the decision.

In deciding to hand down the same sentence, Malestein said Friday that the aggravating factors clearly outweighed the mitigating factors when considering a sentence for Smink.

Smink, who ran the Pike Lanes Family Fun Center in Deerfield, admitted he bought the gasoline and kerosene cans, accelerants and drill used in the torching of the Vineland facility.

Two other Philadelphia residents accused of starting the fire both pleaded guilty. Smink has said the two used a ladder to climb onto the roof of Loyle Lanes on Jan. 11, 2010. After drilling holes through the roof, accelerants were poured into the building and the fire was started when flares were dropped in.

The owners of Loyle Lanes initially planned to rebuild after the fire, but decided not to because they lacked the funds needed for the extensive project