Suspect accepts deal in Schenectady County arson cases

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A suspected arsonist accepted 16 years in state prison on Wednesday in the face of a case against him built largely on beer cans and cardboard, officials said.

It was forensic evidence gleaned from the seemingly innocuous objects that prosecutors said sealed the case against 48-year-old Michael Altheiser.

Altheiser, of Putnam Road, pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of second-degree arson, felonies, admitting that he was the one who started a number of fires in Rotterdam March 25.

None of the fires did much damage, and no one was injured. One homeowner used towels, blankets and water to extinguish the fire at his house.

Investigators had focused on Altheiser early on. He had been suspected in an earlier fire.

But it was the beer cans with his DNA — one each at a crime scene and his home — and a piece of cardboard with Altheiser’s fingerprint that matched with cardboard at his home that put the case on solid footing, authorities said.

Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney said, “The forensics was outstanding.”

“If it was just the fingerprint, it could be a circumstantial case,” he added. “But as the forensic evidence in this case mounted, it became less and less likely that he could claim he was set up.”

Altheiser was represented in court by attorney Sven Paul, who cited several factors that resulted in his client taking a plea, including the cardboard analysis. He noted that DNA and fingerprints are often used in cases, but not “fracture analysis” of cardboard.

“That certainly was a factor we considered,” Paul said.

It was the state police Forensic Investigation Center that tested the cardboard. Officials determined that the piece at a fire scene was torn from one found in Altheiser’s home.

The fire scene cardboard also contained a crucial fingerprint, one matched to Altheiser.

At another fire scene, a Milwaukee’s Iced Best can was found containing accelerant. On its lip was DNA that matched Altheiser.

Also found at Altheiser’s home was a similar can, also with his DNA. There was also what Carney described as a pallet full of Milwaukee’s Iced Best at his home.

Investigators believe that Altheiser would get drunk and then set fires for the thrill. He is a suspect in other cases.

Carney credited work from the Rotterdam Police Department, the Schenectady County Office of the Fire Coordinator Fire Investigation Division, the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, the state police and the state police Forensic Investigation Center.

He also credited work done by Jennifer DeStefano, assistant district attorney, who handled the case.