LI Woman Sentenced To 18 Years After Trying To Set 3 Homes On Fire: DA

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — An East Quogue woman was sentenced Tuesday to 18 years in prison after she attempted multiple arsons in the Hampton Bays area and tried to hold up a Dollar Tree at knife point, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Amanda Burnside, 42, was sentenced after a jury found her guilty of second-degree arson and other related charges, after she tried to set three homes on fire in Hampton Bays in November 2023, the DA said.

Burnside also pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted robbery after attempting to forcibly steal money from a Dollar Tree store cashier while displaying a knife, hours after being released on the arson-related charges, Tierney said.

The evidence at trial established that on November 12, 2023, Burnside attempted, but ultimately failed, to start fires at two occupied homes in Hampton Bays, Tierney said.

Burnside succeeded in starting a fire at a third home, which was occupied at the time by four people, the DA said. 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 gasoline-soaked bench, the DA said. The Southampton Town Police Department arrived at the scene, and Burnside was placed under arrest, the DA said.

On November 13, 2023, two hours after she was released following the arraignment on the arson-related charges, Burnside then 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, the DA said.

On January 27, Burnside was convicted after a jury trial heard before Acting Supreme Court
Justice Steven Pilewski, on one count of second-degree arson, a Class B violent felony,
and two counts of second-degree attempted arson, Class C violent felonies, Tierney said.

On February 25, 2025, Burnside pleaded to first-degree attempted robbery, a Class C violent felony, Tierney said.

Burnside was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the 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, the DA said.

Burnside was represented by Melissa Aguanno. "This case was one of the most difficult I've had in my 15-year career," Aguanno told Patch in a past interview. "I really hope that Amanda gets all the help that she really needs and deserves. This really is a case involving the mental health system," she said, adding, "Pre-trial negotiations were handled in a respectful way by the DA's office."

"Suffolk will not tolerate arson and violence," said Tierney. "This defendant's crime spree is over."