Crime & Safety
New Hyde Park Man Sentenced for Setting Upstate Fire
Lance G. Muckenhaupt to serve 60 day prison sentence on weekends, pay $28,000 in restitution.
A New Hyde Park resident will spend 60 days in jail for an April 2012 fire that destroyed a lodge in Wawarsing in upstate New York.
According to police, Lance Muckenhaupt, 57, was allegedly burning brush on the property of the old Tamarack Lodge without a permit. A ban on any open burning was also in place until May 15.
Muckenhaupt was reportedly unable to keep the fire contained and numerous buildings were destroyed both on the old Tamarack property as well as structures on adjacent properties. In all, approximately 30 structures were damaged or destroyed and numerous acres of woodland were also destroyed.
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The full charges are as follows:
- Arson 4th degree (2 counts – E Felony)
- Setting a Fire Without Clearing Area (Misdemeanor – ECL)
- Burning Without A Permit (Misdemeanor – ECL)
- Setting a Fire That Endangers Property (Misdemeanor – ECL)
- Open Burning During Statewide Burning Ban (Misdemeanor – ECL)
Muckenhaupt was arrested in White Plains and transported to Ulster County where he was charged with fourth degree arson and several misdemeanors of the Environmental Conservation Law by the Department of Environmental Conservation Police.
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Muckenhaupt pled guilty to the charges in April and was originally due to be sentenced on May 20, but failed to appear in court. A bench warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest, after which Muckenhaupt turned himself in, saying that he had confused the sentencing date. He was held for 11 days in Ulster County Jail.
In addition to the 6-day sentence, Muckenhaupt was also ordered to pay $28,000 in restitution on the violation of burning material near the hotel during a statewide burn ban.
According to Ulster County Chief Assistant District Attorney John Tobin, Muckenhaupt has already paid the fine and will be serving his sentence in the Ulster County jail on weekends because according to the Daily Freeman "the judge did not want the employees of Muckenhaupt’s business to lose their jobs."
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