Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler Announces 20 Year Sentence in Arson of Trooper’s Home
Tyler Williams Previously Pled Guilty to Arson in the Second Degree
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Tyler Williams, 26, of Middletown, was sentenced by the Honorable Craig Stephen Brown in Orange County Court to twenty (20) years in prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision relative to his previously guilty plea to Arson in the Second Degree.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, in the evening of December 20, 2023, Williams was pulled over in Middletown by a New York State Trooper and issued traffic tickets. Early the next morning, a fire was started at the home of the Trooper’s father in Warwick. At the scene of the fire, the Town of Warwick Police Department was assisted by the Orange County Fire Investigation Unit as well as the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
During an investigation that spanned almost five months, a team of investigators and prosecutors, comprised of members of the Town of Warwick Police Department, the New York State Police Major Crimes Unit and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office worked tirelessly to solve the case. After the execution of over twenty judicially-authorized search warrants, largely focused on digital forensics, as well as numerous subpoenas, Tyler Williams was arrested and charged for having set the fire. The investigation revealed that in the hours after being issued the traffic tickets by the Trooper and before setting the fire, the defendant utilized various search websites in an effort to learn the address of the Trooper. At the plea proceedings, Williams admitted to intentionally starting the fire at the house when he knew or should have known that people were in the home.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the joint efforts of the Town of Warwick Police Department, the New York State Police, the Town of Goshen Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as themembers of the District Attorney’s Office which resulted in the defendant’s arrest.
“The conduct of this defendant is almost inconceivable,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “The two-decade long sentence imposed is warranted by this offender’s senseless and unjustified act of violence. I commend the careful and thorough work of all of the law enforcement investigators who ensured that this defendant was brought to justice. We, as a civilized society, will not permit outrageous retribution against police officers for simply doing their jobs.”
“As police officers, we protect and serve our communities every day,” said Town of Warwick Police Chief John Rader. “We do not and should not expect to be targets of violence for doing the hard work we do. The Town of Warwick Police worked collaboratively with State, local and federal law enforcement partners and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office in a tenacious investigation which has rightly resulted in a lengthy prison sentence for this violent criminal.”
The case is being prosecuted by District Attorney David Hoovler, Chief Trial Assistant District Attorney Richard Moran and Assistant District Attorney Amanda M. Bettinelli.
A criminal charge is merely an allegation by the police that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.