The Portsmouth firefighter accused of setting multiple dumpster fires in Chesapeake appeared in court on Thursday.
51-year-old Mark Stuck faces five felony arson charges in connection with five dumpster fires set behind Tenko Japan, a restaurant in Chesapeake.
Stuck spent the last 30 years working for the Portsmouth Fire Department. In court, Stuck waived his preliminary hearing, choosing to go straight to trial. Stuck’s attorney Andrew Sacks said they made this decision for good reason, but wouldn’t specify what those reasons are.
“This is the proper step in his case to obtain what we hope will be the best outcome for him,” said Sacks.