McGowan sentenced to a year in county jail after setting lingerie on fire

Tuesday, November 24, 2015 - 16:03

GUILDERLAND — A Slingerlands man, who burned a female victim’s lingerie, was sentenced to one year in the local jail in Albany County Court last week by Judge Peter Lynch.

Jeremy P. McGowan, 39, was arrested on Oct. 19, 2014, at 406 Vesper Court, in Guilderland, after members of the Guilderland Police Department, Westmere Fire Department, Fort Hunter Fire Department, and McKownville Fire Department, responded to a call there at approximately 3:08 a.m.

After the fire was extinguished, an investigation determined that McGowan, during a domestic dispute, had opened one of the female victim’s dresser drawers, removed her lingerie, placed it in the bathtub in the master bathroom, and lit it on fire before leaving the house, according to a press release from the Albany County District Attorney’s Office.

The fire, said the release, grew substantially within minutes, and caused damage to the bathtub and surrounding areas.

There were three people in the house but no injuries as a result of the fire, according to the Guilderland Police report. McGowan was arrested for second-degree arson, first-degree reckless endangerment, and second-degree criminal mischief, all felonies, and fifth-degree arson, a misdemeanor.

He was found guilty of one count of fourth-degree arson, a felony, on Sept. 24.

The people requested an order of protection in favor of the victim, to be put in place at the time of the sentencing, but the request was denied by the court.

Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Fowler prosecuted the case.

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