Courts. (Credit: Flickr/Creative Commons)
A man who set fire to contents of a Dumpster behind a Doylestown Township pizza shop in October was sentenced to a maximum 23 months in jail and three years’ probation after pleading guilty earlier this month to felony criminal mischief-damaging property intentionally.
Michael Lee Satterfield, 41, who has no fixed address, has a felony charge of reckless burning dropped at his guilty plea hearing Jan. 7, as well as misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and criminal mischief, per court records.
According to documents, Satterfield was granted immediate parole, as he received credit for time served since Oct. 19, 2024.
Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr. must also have no contact with the victim and must undergo mental health treatment, per court records.
Satterfield was represented by public defender Melissa Hasanbelliu.
On Oct. 19 at 12:38 a.m., police were dispatched to Lucatelli’s Pizza at 73 Old Dublin Pike, for a report of a Dumpster fire in the rear of the business, per the complaint. Upon arrival, police found the contents of a large construction Dumpster fully engulfed in flames, police said.
The Dumpster was located in close enough proximity to the business that there appeared to be significant danger of the building catching fire, police said.
Doylestown Fire Co. arrived and began putting out the fire. All businesses were closed at the time and there were no evacuations.
A pizzeria employee arrived to let in the fire marshal, who found the Dumpster was within five feet behind the walk-in freezer of Lucatelli’s and the fire marshal determined that smoke and water entered the business, police said. The fire marshal then notified the county Health Department, per the report.
Police were provided video footage of the exterior of the business, which showed an unknown person wearing dark clothing, with a dark hood over a light-colored hood, and a red backpack, intentionally setting fire to the contents of the Dumpster, police said.
The video allegedly shows Satterfield at 11:24 p.m. walking toward the Dumpster and throwing something inside before walking away. Three minutes later, the video shows Satterfield returning to the Dumpster and attempting to light something inside, police said.
At 11:28 p.m., Satterfield allegedly returned to the Dumpster with something in his left hand, dropped it inside, and walked away. By 11:30 p.m., the Dumpster contents are on fire, police said.
The fire marshal declared the incident arson, police said.
Police allege Satterfield appeared at the scene of the crime, talking with firefighters out front, as they fought the fire in the rear of the business.
Police recognized Satterfield from prior contacts, per the affidavit, and began searching for him at 2:08 a.m. By 2:32 a.m., police allegedly found Satterfield across the street from Lucatelli’s, at the Acme at 480 N. Main St. in Doylestown Township.
Satterfield was taken into custody, police said. He was wearing a black jacket with a hood over a green sweatshirt, which was over a light-colored hoodie, and a red Mario Bros. backpack, police allege.
A lighter and matches were found on Satterfield, police said.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
