(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Amanda Burnside, 42, of East Quogue was sentenced to 18 years in prison after a jury found the defendant guilty of Arson in the Second Degree and other related charges, for attempting to set three homes on fire in Hampton Bays in November 2023. Burnside also pleaded guilty to Attempted Robbery in the First Degree for attempting to forcibly steal money from a Dollar Tree store cashier while displaying a knife, hours after being released on the arson-related charges.
“Suffolk will not tolerate arson and violence,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This defendant’s crime spree is over.”
The evidence at trial established that on November 12, 2023, Burnside attempted, but ultimately failed, to start fires at two occupied homes in Hampton Bays. Burnside succeeded in starting a fire at a third home which was occupied at the time by four people. At that home, Burnside poured gasoline onto a wicker bench on the front porch and then proceeded to light papers on fire, using that to ignite the gasoline-soaked bench. The Southampton Town Police Department arrived on scene, and Burnside was placed under arrest.
On November 13, 2023, two hours after the defendant was released following the arraignment on the arson-related charges, Burnside then entered a Dollar Tree store in Hampton Bays, grabbed a knife, and demanded money from one of the cashiers. When members of the Southampton Police Department arrived, they found Burnside inside the store, still next to one of the cash registers, and they placed the defendant under arrest.
On January 27, 2025, Burnside was convicted after a jury trial heard before Acting Supreme Court Justice, Steven A. Pilewski, for one count of Arson in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony, and two counts of Attempted Arson in the Second Degree, Class C violent felonies.
On February 25, 2025, Burnside pleaded guilty to Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, a Class C violent felony. Burnside was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the defendant’s conviction on the arson-related charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison on the attempted robbery conviction to run concurrent to the arson sentence. Burnside was represented by Melissa Aguanno, Esq.
These cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jonathan Cappiello and Tara O’Donnell of the Major Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives Michael Algozzino, Ryan Hughes, and Keith Phillips of the Southampton Town Police Department, as well as Fire Marshals Chris Hansen and Joseph Hernandez of the Southampton Town Department of Fire Prevention and Fire Marshal Ryan Fischer and K9 Chuck of the Suffolk County Fire Marshals Office.
