People v. Canale

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Montgomery County, rendered March 1, 1979, upon a verdict convicting defendant of the crime of arson in the third degree. The defendant and George H. Bennett, his accomplice, were jointly indicted for arson in the second degree in violation of section 150.15 of the Penal Law. Bennett had been hired by the defendant as "an off the books” occasional employee to help in the defendant’s operation of his bar and restaurant. Bennett was granted immunity by the District Attorney and testified that he started the fire in a closet on the third floor of the…