The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A woman who was reportedly upset because her longtime acquaintance owed her $7 allegedly set the man’s front door on fire after they got into an argument at his home.
It is often said that one should never loan money to friends, and on July 3, an incident occurred in Salisbury, Maryland, that supported the advice. According to reports, a man and woman who have known each other for years were at his house together when they began to argue. The woman reportedly insisted that he owed her $7, and she wanted the man to give it to her immediately. The situation was left unresolved, and she took off.
When the authorities later viewed surveillance videos collected from businesses around the residence, they noted that the events following her departure implicated her in a multitude of criminal acts. It appeared that someone fitting her description went back to the home with a bottle in their hand and approached the front door. Just before it began to burn, the woman reportedly doused the front door with the contents from the container.
Before the local fire department and investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal with a K9 reached the residence, the man was able to put out the fire. It was reported that the K9 was instrumental in determining that the blaze was not accidental.
On August 1, the suspect was taken into custody and booked into the Wicomico County Detention Center. She is facing preliminary charges of first-degree arson, second-degree arson, malicious burning, misdemeanor reckless endangerment, misdemeanor malicious destruction of property, and misdemeanor theft of less than $100. Three days later, she was released from the facility on a $25,000 unsecured bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.