Brooklyn man indicted in fire that killed two family dogs and destroyed Central Islip home

Robert Alston allegedly smashed Ring cameras, climbed through a kitchen window and set his relative’s house on fire

A Brooklyn man broke into his parents’ Central Islip home through a kitchen window, smashed the Ring cameras and set the house on fire, killing two family dogs inside, police and prosecutors said on Friday.

Robert Alston, 39, pleaded not guilty this week to second-degree burglary, third-degree arson, two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and other charges.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Alston’s indictment on Friday. At his arraignment on Wednesday, State Supreme Court Justice John Collins set Alston’s bail at $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond or $500,000 partially secured bond.

Prosecutors said Alston showed up at the home about 11:40 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, and got in through a kitchen window. He allegedly destroyed two Ring cameras and then lit combustible materials inside, causing heavy damage.

None of the people who live there were home at the time of the fire. But the family’s two dogs, a German shepherd and a Maltese, both died.

Examinations conducted at Cornell University’s Animal Health Diagnostic Center found the dogs died from toxic smoke inhalation, the DA’s office said.

Authorities said Alston ran off after starting the fire, and when police stopped him a few blocks away, he at first gave officers a false name.

“This defendant allegedly broke into and then set fire to a family member’s home in Central Islip late at night,” Tierney said. “Thankfully, the family member was not present in the home at the time, but these alleged actions unfortunately took the lives of the family member’s two pet dogs.”

The Central Islip and Brentwood fire departments, with assistance from other neighboring departments, put out the fire.

The full indictment charges Alston with:

• Second-degree burglary
• Third-degree arson
• Two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals
• Four counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief
• Two counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals
• False personation

At Alston’s arraignment, Judge Collins also barred him from owning or having any animals while the case goes on. Alston, due back in court Nov. 23, faces up to 15 years in prison if he’s convicted of the top count.

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_{Top: Two dogs died in the Oct. 2 Central Islip house fire, prosecutors said (Facebook, Central Islip Fire Department).}