Tyler Williams Faces up to 20 Years in Prison

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Tyler Williams, 26, of Middletown, pled guilty before the Honorable Craig Stephen Brown in Orange County Court to Arson in the Second Degree.  Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Williams pled guilty, the People will recommend he be sentenced to twenty (20) years in prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision when he is sentenced on January 6, 2025.

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 the members of the District Attorney’s Office which resulted in the defendant’s arrest.

“Every day in America, police officers write countless traffic tickets, and it does not result in those drivers setting fire to those officers’ homes in retribution,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “The admitted conduct in this case stands as amongst the most egregious I have ever seen exhibited towards a police officer in my career.  The twenty-year sentence that we will recommend be imposed on this dangerous offender reflects the seriousness of these crimes and our commitment to holding the defendant accountable.  I applaud the painstaking work of the investigators who ensured that this defendant was brought to justice.  Law enforcement represents the backbone of the safety of our community, and they must be protected for doing the dangerous work that they do every day.”

New York State Police Troop F Commander, Major Michael W. Sumnick stated “I want to thank District Attorney Hoovler and all of the agencies who were involved in bringing this case to a close.  The public doesn’t often get to see the work that goes on behind the scenes in a complex criminal investigation, and one of our best tools is the close working partnership between agencies.  We have first-rate law enforcement here in Orange County and the experience and expertise is second to none.  I commend the outstanding efforts of the Warwick Police, Town of Goshen Police, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, my own State Police members, and our federal partners at the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  As members of law enforcement, we accept the dangers of our job and remain focused on making the safety of the public our top priority.  But we do not expect that risk to follow us home, putting our member and family in danger – just for doing his job.”

“This incident struck at the heart of every law enforcement officer and their families,” said Town of Warwick Police Chief John Rader. “We are out there every day serving and protecting our communities and it is beyond comprehension that our lives and the lives of our families could be targeted for doing our job. The fact that we are sitting here today at this press conference is a testament to the professionalism of the first arriving Town of Warwick police officers at the scene of the early morning fire; the dedication and tenacity of the Town of Warwick Police Detectives and the NY State BCI Investigators that were assigned to this case; the assistance of the Town of Goshen Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and the ATF; and the cooperation of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.”

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.