HUDSON — A Columbia County teenager charged with arson and murder in connection with a fatal housefire in Livingston last year was expected to enter a new plea in court Monday, but the proceeding was delayed.
The teen, 16, of Hudson, whose name is not being published due to her age, previously pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder with depraved indifference to human life, and first-degree arson during the court appearance in July 2024.
At a court appearance Monday, the teenager planned to enter a plea to one count of the indictment. However, the plea was postponed to give the family of the alleged victim in the case more time to attend the proceedings.
“We understand that the defendant is ready to enter a plea in this case,” Columbia County District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant said in court Monday. “However, because the people were not anticipating that, we were not able to give the victim’s family notice of this procedure today. They want to be here when the defendant pleads, and so we ask for a short adjournment.”
The teenager would potentially plea guilty to the second count of the indictment, which is second-degree murder with depraved indifference to human life, if it is accepted by the prosecution, Columbia County Judge Michael Howard said in court Monday.
“My anticipation is that the defendant would be pleading to one count in full satisfaction of the indictment,” Liberati-Conant said. “Of course, if the defendant wishes to plead to all of the counts in the indictment, then she has an absolute right to do that today.”
William Galvin, the Ghent-based defense attorney representing the teenager, objected to the postponement of the plea.
“My client is extremely desirous of accepting responsibility in this matter,” he said.
Howard allowed the proceedings to be postponed for two weeks to allow the alleged victim's family to attend them.
“The family members have a right to be present, if it can be scheduled appropriately,” he said. “I was thinking that, perhaps, we could come back in two weeks. I note your [Galvin’s] objection, but I’m granting the people’s application.”
A potential sentence for the 16-year-old was not discussed in court Monday. The teenager is scheduled to appear in court to enter a potential plea March 10.
The charges against the 15-year-old stem from a June 7, 2024 incident at a home in Livingston involving a house fire that killed a man.
Personnel from the New York State Police and Livingston Fire Department responded to a fire at 2789 Route 9 with reports of individuals trapped inside of the house at about 1:42 p.m. June 7, 2024.
After an investigation into the incident, police found the fire was deliberately set by the then-15-year-old suspect, and Livingston resident Edmund W. Metz, 58, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The teen was arrested June 7, and charged with second-degree murder with depraved indifference to human life, and first-degree arson, both class A-I felonies.
According to the felony complaints filed in the case, Metz was the suspect's father.
The teenager is scheduled to appear in court March 10.
