Man Set Fire To Family Member's LI Home, Killing 2 Dogs: DA

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A Brooklyn man has been indicted on burglary, arson and animal cruelty charges after prosecutors said he broke into a family member's Central Islip home and intentionally set it on fire, killing two pet dogs.

Robert Alston, 39, was indicted on charges including second-degree burglary, third-degree arson and aggravated cruelty to animals in connection with the Oct. 2 fire, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Friday.

According to prosecutors, Alston arrived at the family member's home around 11:40 p.m. and entered the residence by climbing through a kitchen window.

Once inside, Alston ignited combustible materials, starting a fire that caused significant damage to the home. Prosecutors said he also destroyed two Ring security cameras before setting the fire.

The homeowner was not home at the time, but two dogs, a German shepherd and a Maltese, were inside.

Both dogs died as a result of the fire, prosecutors said.

Necropsies conducted at Cornell University's Animal Health Diagnostic Center determined that the dogs' causes of death were consistent with smoke inhalation and exposure to toxic combustion products that resulted in systemic hypoxia, a condition in which the body's tissues do not receive enough oxygen.

After starting the fire, Alston fled the home but was stopped by police a few blocks away, prosecutors said. He initially provided officers with a false name, according to the district attorney's office.

Alston was arraigned Thursday before Supreme Court Justice John Collins on one count of second-degree burglary, a Class C violent felony; one count of third-degree arson, a Class C felony; two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, Class E felonies; four counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief, Class A misdemeanors; two counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, Class A misdemeanors; and one count of false personation, a Class B misdemeanor.

Collins continued Alston's bail at $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond or $500,000 partially secured bond.

The judge also ordered that Alston not own or possess any animals while the case is pending.

Alston is scheduled to return to court Nov. 23. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top charge, prosecutors said.

He is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County, which was not immediately available to provide a comment.

"This defendant allegedly broke into and then set fire to a family member's home in Central Islip late at night," Tierney said. "Thankfully, the family member was not present in the home at the time, but these alleged actions unfortunately took the lives of the family member's two pet dogs. I thank the Central Islip Fire Department and Suffolk County Police Department for their swift action in this case to ensure no other injuries or fatalities occurred. We will continue to hold this defendant accountable for his alleged crimes."