LI Woman Tried Set Fire To 3 Homes, Hold Up Store At Knifepoint: DA

EAST QUOGUE, NY — An East Quogue woman was indicted Thursday after she tried to set fire to three homes and then, attempted to steal money from a Hampton Bays store at knifepoint just hours after being released on her own recognizance, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

According to Tierney, on Nov. 12, Amanda Burnside, 41, was arrested by Southampton Town police after trying to set fire to three homes in Hamptons Bays. On November 13, Burnside was arraigned before the Southampton Town Justice Court on charges including one count of second-degree arson, a violent felony, and two counts of second-degree attempted arson, a violent felony, Tierney said.

At that arraignment, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office requested that Burnside be held in custody on bail in the amount of $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, and $1.5 million partially secured bond, Tierney said.

The court released Burnside on her own recognizance and instructed her to report for supervised release within 72 hours, Tierney said.

Two hours after she was released following the arraignment on the arson-related charges, Burnside entered a Dollar Tree store in Hampton Bays, grabbed a knife, and demanded money from one of the cashiers, Tierney said.

When members of the Southampton Police Department arrived, they found Burnside inside the store, still next to one of the cash registers, and placed her under arrest, Tierney said.

On Thursday, Burnside was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court
Justice Steven A. Pilewski on charges including first-degree attempted robbery, a violent felony; third-degree attempted robbery, a felony; and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor, Tierney said.

Justice Pilewski ordered Burnside be held on $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, or $1.5 million
partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, Tierney said.

Burnside is due back in court on January 17, 2024, and is being represented by Melissa Aguanno; Aguanno was not immediately available for comment.

Burnside’s arson-related charges are still pending in Southampton Town Justice Court, and the next court date for that case is January 8, 2024, Tierney said.

"This defendant clearly posed a threat to society after allegedly trying to set three homes ablaze that day," said Tierney. "I cannot stress enough that the laws surrounding bail with respect to public safety are flawed and need to be fixed. Keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe remains my number one priority and I will continue to push for change. New York is the only state that does not allow for judges to consider danger to the community in setting bail."