Ex-church janitor confesses to Lynnway car arson

LYNN – A former church janitor confessed Wednesday to torching his ex-wife’s car behind a Lynnway automotive business in 2008.Frank Luti, 35, 16 Commercial St., was arrested on the night of July 13 while fleeing the scene where roaring flames consumed the 2006 Dodge Durango. Although an alert tow truck driver described Luti as the man he saw bolting from the parking lot of Sullivan’s Tires, the criminal charges were eventually dropped in District Court.Fire Department arson investigators Lt. David Legere and Donald Baron continued to gather evidence in the case. Earlier this week, Luti was again summoned to court where he was arraigned on a single count of burning a motor vehicle. Luti pleaded guilty and received a suspended one-year jail term, with 18 months of probation and an order to perform community service.”The case finally came to fruition over the past couple of months,” said Baron, noting that the Essex County district attorney’s office took renewed interest once the additional evidence was presented. “From the start, we had an eyewitness, a tow truck driver from Fleming’s Towing who happened to be pulling into the parking lot to write up his nightly run log. Just as he enters the lot, he sees the suspect heading out on foot and then running down the Lynnway. He got a great look at the guy.”The tow truck driver called Lynn Police and Fire departments. He then drove south along the Lynnway until he spotted the suspect near Sonny’s Car Wash on the opposite side of the highway. He kept the man in view while talking to police who snared Luti as he turned onto Commercial Street.”The guy told police he had just gotten off the bus from Boston,” Baron said.The car, belonging to Theresa Florino, had been reported stolen in Revere.Luti was working as a custodian at St. Mary’s High School and parish when the incident occurred. Despite a lengthy criminal record dating to 1992 and completion of a CORI check by the Archdiocese of Boston, Luti was hired. He left the job soon after his arrest.