Buffalo man pleads guilty to arson charge for intentionally firing flare gun into Amherst home

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office 

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced 30-year-old Dino A. Bruscia of Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller to one count of arson in the third degree (class “C” felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the only charge in the indictment against him ahead of a jury trial that was scheduled to begin next week.

On Dec. 22, 2019, at approximately 5 a.m., the defendant, with the intent to cause damage, fired a flare gun at a house on Arcadian Drive in the Town of Amherst. The arson caused damage to the dining room of the home.

Bruscia faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced as a second felony offender before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on Friday, June 9, at 9:30 a.m. He continues to be released on his own recognizance.

On Oct. 21, 2022, his co-defendant, 21-year-old Christian R. McCaffrey of Williamsville, was sentenced before Justice Boller to three years of probation.

Between Aug. 16 and Dec. 21, 2019, the defendant intentionally and repeatedly harassed the victim through phone calls and text messages. McCaffrey pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated harassment in the second degree (class “A” misdemeanor) on Aug. 4, 2022.

District Attorney Flynn commends the Amherst Police Department for their work in this investigation. Flynn also recognizes Confidential Criminal Investigators Kevin Brinkworth, Mike Nigrelli and Bobby Yeates for their work in this case.

Both cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nicholas C. Bussi of the felony trials bureau and Assistant District Attorney Rachel Kranitz McPhee of the special victims/domestic violence bureau.