An East Quogue woman was sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempting to set three Hampton Bays houses on fire two years ago and for attempting to rob a nearby store.
On November 12, 2023, Amanda Burnside attempted, but ultimately failed, to start fires at two occupied homes in Hampton Bays. Burnside succeeded in starting a fire at a third home which was occupied at the time by four people. At that home, Burnside poured gasoline onto a wicker bench on the front porch and then proceeded to light papers on fire, using that to ignite the bench. The Southampton Town Police Department arrived on scene, and Burnside was placed under arrest.
The next day, on November 13, 2023, two hours after Burnside was released following the arraignment on the arson-related charges, she then entered a Dollar Tree store in Hampton Bays, grabbed a knife, and demanded money from one of the cashiers. When members of the Southampton Police Department arrived, they found Burnside inside the store, still next to one of the cash registers, and they placed her under arrest.
On January 27, 2025, Burnside was convicted after a jury trial heard before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski for one count of second-degree arson, a Class B violent felony, and two counts of second-degree attempted arson, both Class C violent felonies.
On February 25, 2025, Burnside pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted robbery, a Class C violent felony. She was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the defendant’s conviction on the arson-related charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison on the attempted robbery conviction to run concurrent to the arson sentence.
“Suffolk will not tolerate arson and violence,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “This defendant’s crime spree is over.”