{"data":{"id":"us-ny/n.y.-penal-law-150.20","jurisdiction":"us-ny","citation":"N.Y. Penal Law § 150.20","heading":"Arson in the first degree","body":"§ 150.20 Arson in the first degree.\n  1. A person is guilty of arson in the first degree when he\nintentionally damages a building or motor vehicle by causing an\nexplosion or a fire and when (a) such explosion or fire is caused by an\nincendiary device propelled, thrown or placed inside or near such\nbuilding or motor vehicle; or when such explosion or fire is caused by\nan explosive; or when such explosion or fire either (i) causes serious\nphysical injury to another person other than a participant, or (ii) the\nexplosion or fire was caused with the expectation or receipt of\nfinancial advantage or pecuniary profit by the actor; and when (b)\nanother person who is not a participant in the crime is present in such\nbuilding or motor vehicle at the time; and (c) the defendant knows that\nfact or the circumstances are such as to render the presence of such\nperson therein a reasonable possibility.\n  2. As used in this section, \"incendiary device\" means a breakable\ncontainer designed to explode or produce uncontained combustion upon\nimpact, containing flammable liquid and having a wick or a similar\ndevice capable of being ignited.\n  Arson in the first degree is a class A-I felony.","path":["Penal Law","Part 3. Specific Offenses","Title I. Offenses Involving Damage to and Intrusion Upon Property","Article 150. Arson"],"source_url":"https://legislation.nysenate.gov/api/3/laws/PEN/150.20","current_through":"2026-09-11","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:32:45Z","sha256":"7ea0b94efee8d0dfc951ae650eaae334e62d9965e0bc18d9360def2bb5237ff8","source_id":"us-ny","stale":false,"prev":"us-ny/n.y.-penal-law-150.15","next":"us-ny/n.y.-penal-law-155.00"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}