Submitted by the Rensselaer County District Attorneys Office
Former Schaghticoke Fire Chief Matthew Woelfersheim pled guilty in Rensselaer County Court before the Honorable Jennifer G. Sober to one count of Arson in the Second Degree (class B felony), one count of Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree (class E felony), one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree and one count of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (misdemeanor).
On September 2, 2020 Woelfersheim was found to have entered a building located at 165 4th Street, in the City of Troy, where he set fire to a bag of charcoal causing the building to be engulfed in flames. The defendant then fled the area and was located a few hours later. The building sustained fire, smoke, water and structural damage as a result of the defendant’s actions. There were two residential tenants at home in the building at the time of the fire. Woelfersheim has been sentenced to 12 years in state prison.
