Causing Explosion By Baking Bug Spray, Arson Earns 9 Years In Prison

PORT JERVIS, NY — A woman who caused an explosion before intentionally setting fires in an apartment house will be supervised in the kitchen for years to come.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that 53-year-old Dawn Hulse, of Port Jervis, was sentenced last Thursday to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision after her previous guilty plea to second degree arson.

According to court documents, on January 25, 2022, after turning off the smoke detector at the fuse box in the basement and barricading the door to the apartment, Hulse lit several fires in the first-floor apartment of a two-family house in Port Jervis.

The second-floor residents heard an explosion, which was the result of Hulse placing bug spray in her oven and turning it on.

During plea proceedings, Hulse admitted to starting a fire at the home while knowing there was a person inside.

"Arson is an insidious crime that is, by its nature, particularly challenging to investigate," Hoovler said. "These crimes pose substantial risks to life and property and the offenders who commit these crimes must be held accountable for their dangerous actions. I commend the work of the City of Port Jervis Police Department whose investigation led to the arrest and successful prosecution of this defendant. My Office continues to focus on arson crimes and will utilize all available expertise and resources to prosecute these cases."

The district attorney thanked the City of Port Jervis Police Department for their investigation which led to the arrest of Hulse.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jessica Dovico.