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Office of the District Attorney
Green Island Man Pleads Guilty to Albany Arsonist ALBANY , NY – District Attorney P. David Soares today announced that JOHN POSITANO, 32 of Green Island, NY pled guilty to Arson in the Third Degree, a Class “C” Felony in front of the Honorable Thomas Breslin. POSITANO faces 5 to 12 years in prison when sentenced on September 22, 2008. On May 24, 2008 at approximately 4:30 A.M. at the New York State Office of General Services Steam Generating Facility located at 79 Sheridan Avenue, POSITANO entered the facility and started a fire in a truck that was parked there. The fire destroyed the truck and damaged the building, which was occupied by the night shift at the time. The arson was caught on video, which was used to identify POSITANO as the arsonist. Faced with the video and incriminating conversations between him and his girlfriend, POSITANO confessed to the New York State Police. “Arson investigations are dangerous, dirty and difficult to prosecute as most of the evidence is destroyed by the crime itself. Despite these challenges, New York State Police Investigator Gerald Holland, Senior Investigator Tom Peters and Investigator Richard Daus with his K9 Emma from the Office of Fire Prevention Services were able to overcome these hurdles through diligent police work to identify the offender and hold him accountable,” commented DA Soares. Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Fowler handled the prosecution of this case. For further information contact: eather Streeter Orth
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