(03/13/06) SAYREVILLE ? The father of a young boy killed in a Sayreville house fire has been criminally charged in connection with the incident.

Kevin Sturgis, 31, turned himself in to police Monday on charges of endangering the welfare of a child. Police say Sturgis left his 5-year-old son, Erik, home alone so he could report to work at a warehouse on March 4. The boy died hours later in a house fire. Investigators believe the boy played with a butane lighter at the home, which caused the fire.

Sturgis? wife, who was the boy?s mother, was murdered four years ago. Sturgis? attorney says prosecutors will have a very difficult time finding a jury that will convict his client. Neighbors say Sturgis didn?t want to leave the boy home alone, he just ran out of options and needed to go to work.

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