Orange County News
 For Immediate Release                                Contact: Christopher Borek 
January 24, 2022 845.291.3276, 845.238.4245c

District Attorney Hoovler Announces State Prison Sentence  

In Arson Case

Monroe Man Who Set Former Girlfriend’s House on Fire Sentenced to 

Nine Years in State Prison

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Monday, January 24, 2022, Nicholas Fontaine, 23, of Monroe, was sentenced to nine years in state prison and five years post-release supervision in connection with a house-fire which occurred in the early morning hours of May 5, 2021, on Juniper Drive, in Monroe.  On October 26, 2021, Fontaine pleaded guilty in Orange County Court to Arson in the Second Degree.  The defendant’s former girlfriend and her family were in the house at the time the fire erupted, damaging  the outside of the residence and destroying a car in the driveway of the residence. 

Prosecutors argued that at about 1:40 AM on May 5, 2021, Fontaine and another had repeatedly poured gasoline over a 2018 Hyundai Elantra automobile belonging to Fontaine’s former girlfriend which was parked next to her residence.  Ring camera recordings showed the car being set ablaze and the fire quickly spreading to the siding of the residence, which quickly became engulfed in flames.  Fontaine admitted that he had reason to believe that the residence was occupied at the time the fire was started. Fortunately no one was injured in the incident. 

On Thursday, October 28, 2021, Emanuel Watson, 24, of Monroe, admitted acting in concert with Fontaine in setting the fire.  On December 14, 2021, Watson was sentenced to five years in state prison, and five years post-release supervision, in connection with his actions in helping Fontaine set the fire 

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for their investigation of the case and the fire companies who responded to the fire.    

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Tanja Beemer.

“Anyone that would set an occupied house on fire merely because he is angry at a former intimate partner who lives there is clearly a danger to the community and should be incarcerated,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Arson places not only its intended victims at risk, but also those who occupy nearby residences, as well as the brave first responders who regularly risk their lives to protect our lives and property. I commend the New York State Police for their work on this case, as well as the firefighters who prevented this crime from becoming an even greater tragedy.”