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Light Rain Indictment in firebombing at Baldwin home
Man, 22, faces attempted murder, arson charges in attack on of ex-girlfriend’s residence
A 22-year-old man from Baldwin was arraigned Dec. 18 on a 21-count grand jury indictment in connection with the firebombing of his former girlfriend’s house last month, Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced.
Joseph Ferrufino was indicted on charges of attempted murder and arson in two attacks, she said.
Ferrufino, who pleaded not guilty, was remanded at arraignment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Teresa Corrigan. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison on the top charge and is due back in court on Jan. 13, the district attorney’s office said.
“This defendant – on two separate occasions – allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at a Baldwin property and endangered the lives of the people in the home, their neighbors and our first responders,” Singas said. “The defendant’s alleged arson spree ended when our partners in the Nassau County Police Department First Precinct chased him down and arrested him.”
According to the district attorney’s office, the charges facing Ferrufino include:
* First-degree arson;
* Seven counts of second-degree attempted murder;
* First-degree attempted arson;
* Two counts of second-degree arson;
* Two counts of third-degree arson;
* Two counts of second-degree assault;
* Four counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon;
* First-degree reckless endangerment;
* Resisting arrest.
Nassau County police arrested Ferrufino in connection with the 6 a.m. attack on Nov. 24 at 2604 Harrison Ave., police said.
Authorities allege that Ferrufino threw an incendiary device known as a Molotov cocktail into a second-story window of the house, and set a car parked in the driveway on fire. Two people inside the house sustained minor injuries.
The attack on the house was the second in a week. Detective Lt. Richard LeBrun said that a similar attempt with a Molotov cocktail was made about 8:50 p.m. on Nov. 17, but was unsuccessful. After that incident, and an unsuccessful search for the would-be arsonist, police installed a CAPER alarm in the house, an electronic device that sends out an immediate call to 911 in an emergency. CAPER is an acronym for Criminal Apprehension Produced by Electronic Resource.
