Arsonist Uses Bail Reform Get Out of Jail Free Card in New York as State Grapples With Forest Fires

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RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney issued a statement expressing frustration with New York’s bail reform laws following the recent arrest of Jonathan Quiles on charges related to intentionally setting fires amid dry conditions and a statewide burn ban.

Tierney highlighted that, under current state law, arson in certain cases is not considered a bail-eligible offense. This restriction, he stated, prevents his office from requesting bail for Quiles, despite the alleged danger posed by setting fires during a period of elevated wildfire risk.

“Unfortunately, under New York’s ‘Bail Reform,’ intentionally setting fires in the midst of the dangerously dry conditions and a statewide burn ban are not bail eligible offenses,” Tierney said. “My prosecutors cannot even ask for bail on these charges.”

The district attorney called on state lawmakers to amend the bail system, describing it as “broken” and urging for “common sense fixes” to address public safety concerns in cases involving potential threats like arson. His comments underscore ongoing debates over New York’s bail reform laws, which aim to reduce pretrial incarceration but have been criticized by some law enforcement officials who argue the measures limit judicial discretion in cases involving public safety risks.

Quiles’ case is expected to proceed in Suffolk County, though the specific charges against him and additional details on the alleged offenses have not been disclosed by the district attorney’s office.