2 charged in attempted arson of Nassau DSS building with propane tanks

Two North Merrick men were arrested and charged with attempted arson after allegedly placing propane tanks near a Nassau County building and throwing flares toward them last month, Nassau County police announced Friday.

At about 2 a.m. on Sept. 17, James Luca, 46, and Jayson Anthony Reyes, 25, allegedly placed a 20-pound propane tank on its side alongside a 1-pound propane tank, also on its side and connected it to a torch igniter, next to the Nassau County Social Services Building in Uniondale, according to court documents.

Police detectives allege that Luca then threw three road flares toward the propane tanks "attempting to get the propane tanks to explode, and/or catch fire to spread to the building," according to court documents.

On Thursday, Luca and Reyes were both charged with first-degree attempted arson, obstruction of governmental duties by means of a bomb, first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fourth-degree conspiracy, Nassau police said in a news release.

Stacy Ellen Albin-Leone, the Long Beach-based defense attorney representing Luca, said her client pleaded not guilty at his arraignment at the First District Court in Hempstead on Friday. She declined to further comment on Luca’s arrest and charges.

Reyes was additionally charged with a seat belt violation, according to court documents. He pleaded not guilty to all six charges against him at his arraignment at the First District Court in Hempstead on Friday. He is being represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, according to court documents.

Luca was remanded to the Nassau County jail and Reyes was held on bail of $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond and $1,000,000 partially secured bond, according to court documents.

Luca and Reyes are due back in court Oct. 8, according to court documents.