MONTICELLO, NY — DA Meagan Galligan announced that a Sullivan County Grand Jury reported an indictment today, February 16, accusing Mohammed Islam, 33, of New York City, of felony murder in connection with the death of Town of Forestburgh Fire Department Assistant Chief William “Billy” Steinberg. The grand jury additionally accused Islam of Arson in the Fourth Degree, alleging that he illegally set fires on January 10, January 13, and January 15 of this year. In the course of fighting the January 15 fire, Town of Forestburgh Fire Department Assistant Chief William “Billy” Steinberg died of a heart attack. The indictment accuses Islam of bearing criminal responsibility for the death, alleging he intentionally set a fire that recklessly damaged a building at 65 Rock Ridge Drive in the Town of Thompson, and set in motion the events that led to Steinberg’s heart attack.

Galligan said, “While the facts of this case will come out at trial, there is no question that this defendant was mandatorily released in connection with the first two fires as a result of bail reform legislation. Because we could not even recommend that a judge set bail for those two fires, the chain of events that led to Billy’s death commenced. The Sullivan County first responder community is mindful, every day, of the loss of a member of our fire service in the line of duty.”

Islam is currently held at the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash/$150,000 bond in connection with the January 15 fire. The case will be scheduled for arraignment forthwith. Islam is represented by Sullivan County Legal Aid.

A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Click here for the news coverage of the funeral and tribute for Steinberg. 

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