Robert Alston, of Brooklyn, arraigned on additional charges in Central Islip house fire that killed 2 dogs

A Brooklyn man has been arraigned on additional charges after he allegedly set fire to his family's Central Islip home in early October, killing their dogs, officials said.

Robert Alston, 39, broke into the home and started a fire shortly before 1 a.m. Oct. 3, causing the deaths of a German shepherd and a Maltese, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a news release. No people were inside the Cherry Street residence at the time of the alleged arson, Newsday reported. Police previously identified Alston as the son of the homeowner.

Suffolk police arrested Alston on Oct. 3, initially charging him with second-degree arson, second-degree burglary and false personation, Newsday previously reported.

On Wednesday, he pleaded not guilty before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins to the second-degree burglary and false personation charges, a downgraded charge of third-degree arson and to additional charges of two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, four counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief and two counts of overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals and false personation, according to court records. Alston faces 15 years in prison if he is convicted of the top charge.  

About 11:40 p.m. on Oct. 2, Alston climbed through the kitchen window of the home and ignited combustible materials, "causing significant damage," Tierney’s office said. He also destroyed a pair of ring cameras.

Alston fled the scene, "but was stopped by police a few blocks away and initially gave them a false name," the release said.

Necropsies performed on the pets at Cornell University’s Animal Health Diagnostic Center, determined their causes of death "were consistent with smoke inhalation and associated exposure to toxic combustion products resulting in systemic hypoxia," the district attorney’s office said.

Five police officers who rushed inside the home in an unsuccessful attempt to save the dogs were treated for smoke inhalation, the department said.

Collins ordered Alston held on $100,000 cash bail, $200,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond.

Alston cannot have any animals as the case proceeds, according to Tierney’s office. He is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 23. He is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County.