The former Oneida County Sheriff’s deputy accused of arson and attempted murder while on the job is head to trial and over 50 witnesses are expected to testify.
Aaron Alshaman, 29, of Lee Center, is accused of setting fire to a Utica residence on April 9, 2025, while out on patrol. The homeowner called 911 when they became overwhelmed with smoke in the interior of the residence, and fled outside with her infant child, and two parents.
Alshaman, the father of the infant, is charged with second-degree arson and four counts of second-degree attempted murder.
If convicted of his top charge alone, second-degree arson, Alshaman faces up to 25 years in state prison.
Alleged custodial issues
When questioned about who may have committed the act, police said the victim stated she had no suspect information, but did note her child’s father, Alshaman, had recently been served custody papers related to a child they have in common.
Through the investigation surveillance footage from area residences were located.
One from Downer Avenue shows the rear of the residence, and a figure starting the fire, then home becoming engulfed. A second video from Kellogg Avenue shows an individual walking toward 1117 Kellogg Ave. with a gas can in hand, then minutes later the same individual running from the scene with the gas can in a southerly direction.
Authorities started looking into Alshaman’s whereabouts during the time of the incident. He was also put on paid administrative leave.
Police said Automatic Vehicle Location software showed Alshaman’s Oneida County Sheriff’s Vehicle was parked in a parking lot one street to the west at the time of the fire. Additionally, the vehicle leaves the immediate area minutes after the fire is started.
Furthermore, as part of the investigation a multitude of electronic evidence was secured, to include cell phones, smart watches, surveillance video, body worn camera data, and a download of the sheriff’s vehicle.
Alshaman was indicted by a grand jury on May 8 and charged with second-degree arson and four counts of second-degree attempted murder.
District attorney plans to call 50 witnesses
On June 1, Alshaman was before Judge Robert Bauer in Oneida County Court in Utica for a pre-trial conference.
When Bauer asked the prosecution and defense how long they expected the trial to run for, Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville said he had 50 witnesses for an expected seven to eight days of testimony.
Defense Attorney John Leonard said he expected to call four witnesses.
“So we’re safe to tell the jury that it’ll take the better part of two weeks,” Bauer said.
Jury selection is expected to begin on June 15.
“We’ll make this a priority getting this trial started,” Bauer said.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Former Oneida County deputy accused of arson, trial set
Reporting by Casey Pritchard, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
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