What Sentences Are Imposed for Second-Degree Arson in New York?
Two retained official New York City second-degree-arson reports are summarized. One provides a directly allocated 10-year arson term; the other reports a 27-to-29-year total across arson, burglary, reckless endangerment, contempt, and stalking convictions. Only one source allocates the target count; precise municipal-point qualification, full historical-law checking and complete later-docket review remain open. No numerical comparison is calculated.
Quick Answer
- Retained prosecution reports: 2
- Locations: the Bronx and Queens
- Directly allocated arson term: 10 years plus five years post-release supervision
- Aggregate outcome: 27 to 29 years, separately labeled
- Sample warning: small selected public-reporting sample
See the New York hub, compare second-degree burglary and third-degree burglary, and read our methodology.
What Is Second-Degree Arson?
Penal Law §150.15 applies when a person intentionally damages a building or motor vehicle by starting a fire while another nonparticipant is present and the defendant knows, or reasonably should recognize, the possibility of that presence. It is a class B violent felony.
Statutory Sentence
As a current-law reference checked September 29, 2026, Penal Law §70.02(1)(a) lists second-degree arson among class B violent felonies; §70.02(3)(a) ordinarily specifies five to twenty-five years under that provision. Other applicable provisions and offender status can alter the sentence. This general current provision is not a certification of the historical law applied in either retained case. The separately reported post-release-supervision terms are identified below.
Observed Completed Outcomes
| Case | Convictions | Final sentence | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Williams | Second-degree arson and second-degree burglary after jury trial | 10 years plus five years post-release supervision for arson; concurrent five-year burglary term with five years post-release supervision | Target arson term directly allocated |
| Steven Somerville | Second-degree arson plus burglary, reckless endangerment, contempt, and stalking | 27 to 29 years overall | Aggregate multi-offense outcome; not an arson-only term |
Case Details
The official February 26, 2025 release reports Williams’s ten-year arson term plus five years post-release supervision and concurrent five-year burglary term plus five years post-release supervision after a Bronx apartment fire. Its internal release number is 24-2025 despite 24-2024 in the filename; supervision is not added to imprisonment. Official source. Somerville received an overall 27-to-29-year sentence after a Queens jury convicted him of second-degree arson and several other offenses. The official release does not isolate an arson count term, so the total is excluded from any target range. Official source.
Methodology and Limitations
This is a small selected public-reporting sample and should not be treated as a citywide sentencing distribution. Two named prosecution records are retained, but the current two-qualifying-cluster threshold has not been fully certified. Williams has an allocated arson term; Somerville has an unallocated multi-offense total. They are not interchangeable endpoints.
Sources
Disclaimer
General information only, not legal advice.