Former constable arrested in Tempe
Oct. 24, 2011 01:48 PM
Arizona Republic
A former Kyrene Justice Court Constable has been arrested in Tempe, where is accused of conspiring to burn down his home for insurance money.
Jon Levenson, 30, was arrested on Saturday by the Tempe Police Department following a fourth month investigation that began after officers go information that Levenson created the insurance scheme, according to Tempe officers.
Levenson was was voted out of his constable office in 2010 following several accusations of malfeasance.
For the insurance arrest, Tempe police said Levenson planned to be out of state when his home was to be burned down. He also apparently wanted to time the blaze with the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.
Tempe police said Levenson directed co-conspirators to burn the house and mark the scene with ant-Semitic symbols as a way to create the appearance of a hate crime.
Levenson had already reported to police that somebody spray painted his car with the word "Jew" in May. Police said he told investigators at the time that he washed the paint off without taking photographs.
He then contacted police again on June 30, Tempe police said, to report his house had been vandalized with anti-Semitic symbols. Tempe police said those reports are believed to be a "prelude to the arson Levenson was planning for October."
Police said Levenson admitted to planning the scheme but ultimately decided against putting it into action. He was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit arson, conspiracy to commit fraud, and false reporting to law enforcement. Tempe police said nobody else will be arrested in connection to this investigation.