9-27-07

MINEOLA – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that a jury has found Patrick Pilorge, 35, of Spring Hill, Florida, guilty of Arson in the Second Degree, Third Degree (two counts), and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree in connection with a January fire that forced a family out of their Baldwin home last January. Mr. Pilorge faces up to 25 years in prison at his October 24 sentencing. The defendant was acquitted on one count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree.

The trial began on September 20 and lasted five days. After hearing from 11 witnesses during the trial, the jury deliberated for just over four hours before reaching their unanimous verdict.

Rice said that in the early morning hours of January 14, 2007, a witness described seeing a man holding a flaming gas can in the middle of the 700 block of Lincoln Street, Baldwin. The witness, a neighbor of the victims, told the jury that she saw the defendant attempting to put out the gas can, before getting into a car and driving off. Moments later, Joel Toussaint awoke to a loud noise outside of his home. As he responded to a bright light coming from the front of the home, he noticed two vehicles – a Land Rover and a BMW X5 – engulfed in flames in his driveway. Mr. Toussaint quickly alerted his wife and assisted in the evacuation of his family, which included three children (ages 10, 8, and infant), his wife and his brother. After safely fleeing the home, Mr. Toussaint noticed that the base of his home was also on fire.

The house was deemed uninhabitable as a result of the fire. The two vehicles in the driveway were destroyed.

The arson is believed to be the result of a nearly two-year, work-related disagreement between Mr. Toussaint and the defendant. Mr. Pilorge is a former employee of a mortgage company where Mr. Toussaint works.

After the fire, Mr. Pilorge drove to his place of residence in Spring Hill, Florida, where he was arrested days later by Florida law enforcement, pursuant to a New York State arrest warrant. Mr. Pilorge was extradited to Nassau County a week later to face the charges.

Following the verdict, Rice praised the work of the Nassau County Police Department’s Arson/Bomb Squad and the investigators from the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Canty, of the County Court Trial Bureau, is handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Pilorge is being represented by Emmanuel Roy, Esq., of Brooklyn.

Florida Man Convicted in Baldwin Arson Case

Jury finds Pilorge guilty of torching cars and home