ALFRED — Derek Poulin has pleaded not guilty to charges of arson and intentional, knowing or depraved indifference murder.

Poulin, 24, appeared in York County Superior Court Friday morning. Slight in stature, with short hair and a beard, he wore gray pants and a gray and black striped sweater. A bit of what appeared to be orange prison garb peeked out from under his outfit at his waistline.

Poulin stood between his two attorneys, and when asked by Justice Paul Fritzsche if he was pleading not guilty to the charges, he replied with one single word: “Yeah.”

Poulin was arrested on Oct. 27 in relation to the death of his 61-year-old grandmother, Patricia Noel, who was found dead in her Old Orchard Beach home by firefighters who responded to a fire just after 2 p.m. on Oct. 23. Poulin lived at the 44 Wesley Ave. home with his grandmother and his father. Neither Poulin nor his father were at home when firefighters arrived.

A fire investigator believed the slow, smoldering fire could have been set as many as two to three hours prior to discovery, but no later than 1 p.m., according to a police affidavit written by State Police Detective Scott Harakles. The state medical examiner’s office concluded that Noel died from multiple blunt impact injuries to the head, various skull fractures and multiple stab wounds, according to the affidavit. The medical examiner’s office found no sign of smoke inhalation in Noel’s trachea, which, according to a police investigator, was evidence that Noel was not alive at the time of the fire.

Blood on Poulin’s boots matched the DNA profile of Noel, according to the affidavit. Blood was found on the emergency brake pedal of Poulin’s car, and a book of matches with several matches missing was found inside his cup holder and a golf club was found in the trunk.

Poulin told police in October there was a history of domestic violence at the home. He also told police that he rarely left home and his daily activities consisted of smoking cigarettes and marijuana, watching television and playing video games.

Poulin has no prior criminal history, said attorney Robert LeBrasseur in October, after Poulin’s first court appearance.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.