Arson Charges In Connection With 2 Fires Set Outside Selden Home: Police

SELDEN, NY — A 17-year-old set fire to a Christmas tree and lit a pile of garbage outside of a home in Selden on two separate occasions recently, Suffolk police said.

The first incident took place on Jan. 17 at 7:40 a.m. with the Selden teen lighting a pile of garbage and cardboard, damaging the siding of the Continental Drive home, police said, adding that one week later, at around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, he returned and set a Christmas tree on fire next to the home.

It's not clear if the home was damaged in the second incident.

No one was hurt.

Police said that the teen and a resident of the home know each other.

The teen was charged with two counts of second-degree arson, a felony, on Saturday, according to police.

He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in First District Court in Central Islip, and his bail was set at $2,000, $100,000 insured bond, and $20,000 partially secured bond, pending his next appearance in court on Thursday, online court records show.

A temporary order of protection was issued, the records show.

There is no defense attorney on file, according to records.