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Kimberlyn A. White (May 14, 2012) |
A Washington County District Court judge on Monday set bond at $500,000 for a Hagerstown woman who was charged with trying to burn down the home of her former boyfriend Sunday night.
Judge Mark D. Thomas set the bond during a bond-review hearing for Kimberlyn A. White, 43, of 512 Liberty St. Before the hearing, White was being held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center.
White has been charged with one count each of first-degree arson, first-degree burglary, third-degree burglary, reckless endangerment and violation of a protection order; and two counts each of first-degree malicious burning and malicious destruction of property of more than $500.
If convicted of all counts, White faces more than 80 years in prison and $70,000 in fines.
On Monday, White asked Thomas through a closed-circuit television feed between the detention center and the courthouse to set the bond at a reasonable amount.
“I’d like to get back to work,” White said.
The Hagerstown Fire Department was called at 9:52 p.m. Sunday for a report of a fire at 438 E. Franklin St., according to the statement of probable cause obtained Monday from District Court.
When firefighters arrived, they reported that smoke was coming out of the second-floor windows.
Firefighters who entered the rear of the house noticed the rear-kitchen door had a broken window, the statement of probable cause said. They quickly found the fire on the second floor and put out the flames.
Court documents allege that firefighters found water flowing from a kitchen sink, and from a sink in the basement with a towel stuffed in the drain. Firefighters also noted that black paint was sprayed on the walls of the dining room, kitchen and first-floor living room.
In addition to the spray paint damage, the basement and first floor sustained water damage from the sinks being left on with the drains clogged, according to the statement of probable cause. Extensive smoke and heat damages were noticed on the second floor.
“Continuing in a systematic method it was determined the fire in the second floor front bedroom started in a plastic container of clothing and personal belongings of an occupant,” fire investigators wrote in the statement of probable cause. “The fire in the second floor rear bedroom started on the top of a bed located in the room. All accidental causes were eliminated. A spent cardboard match was located in the remains of the plastic container of contents in the second floor front bedroom. Both fires were consistent with the use of an open flame device such as a match to ignite the combustibles.”
Fire investigators said in court records that the tenant of the house, 48-year-old Jason Turner, met them at the scene. Turner told investigators that he and his girlfriend left the house at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
“Turner advised that at the point they left, he secured all doors,” the statement of probable cause said. “Turner also advised that there were no spray paint marks on the walls. He also was not aware of any mechanical problems with the house that would cause a fire.”
While investigators were talking with Turner, they were approached by a female who was identified as his former girlfriend, according to court documents. Turner told fire officials that he had a protection order against the woman from October 2011.
Fire investigators identified the woman as White. Turner told investigators that White moved out of the Franklin Street home in April 2012, but that she no longer had keys to the house.
White told fire investigators that she and Turner “were in good standings,” then left the area.
“White returned to the scene at approximately 11:04 p.m. and contacted Deputy Fire Marshal Fishack while he was interviewing Turner,” the statement of probable cause alleges. “White had her hands out as she approached him and stated to him ‘I did it. Take me away.’”
White was taken to the Hagerstown Police Department.
Judge Mark D. Thomas set the bond during a bond-review hearing for Kimberlyn A. White, 43, of 512 Liberty St. Before the hearing, White was being held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center.
White has been charged with one count each of first-degree arson, first-degree burglary, third-degree burglary, reckless endangerment and violation of a protection order; and two counts each of first-degree malicious burning and malicious destruction of property of more than $500.
If convicted of all counts, White faces more than 80 years in prison and $70,000 in fines.
On Monday, White asked Thomas through a closed-circuit television feed between the detention center and the courthouse to set the bond at a reasonable amount.
“I’d like to get back to work,” White said.
The Hagerstown Fire Department was called at 9:52 p.m. Sunday for a report of a fire at 438 E. Franklin St., according to the statement of probable cause obtained Monday from District Court.
When firefighters arrived, they reported that smoke was coming out of the second-floor windows.
Firefighters who entered the rear of the house noticed the rear-kitchen door had a broken window, the statement of probable cause said. They quickly found the fire on the second floor and put out the flames.
Court documents allege that firefighters found water flowing from a kitchen sink, and from a sink in the basement with a towel stuffed in the drain. Firefighters also noted that black paint was sprayed on the walls of the dining room, kitchen and first-floor living room.
In addition to the spray paint damage, the basement and first floor sustained water damage from the sinks being left on with the drains clogged, according to the statement of probable cause. Extensive smoke and heat damages were noticed on the second floor.
“Continuing in a systematic method it was determined the fire in the second floor front bedroom started in a plastic container of clothing and personal belongings of an occupant,” fire investigators wrote in the statement of probable cause. “The fire in the second floor rear bedroom started on the top of a bed located in the room. All accidental causes were eliminated. A spent cardboard match was located in the remains of the plastic container of contents in the second floor front bedroom. Both fires were consistent with the use of an open flame device such as a match to ignite the combustibles.”
Fire investigators said in court records that the tenant of the house, 48-year-old Jason Turner, met them at the scene. Turner told investigators that he and his girlfriend left the house at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
“Turner advised that at the point they left, he secured all doors,” the statement of probable cause said. “Turner also advised that there were no spray paint marks on the walls. He also was not aware of any mechanical problems with the house that would cause a fire.”
While investigators were talking with Turner, they were approached by a female who was identified as his former girlfriend, according to court documents. Turner told fire officials that he had a protection order against the woman from October 2011.
Fire investigators identified the woman as White. Turner told investigators that White moved out of the Franklin Street home in April 2012, but that she no longer had keys to the house.
White told fire investigators that she and Turner “were in good standings,” then left the area.
“White returned to the scene at approximately 11:04 p.m. and contacted Deputy Fire Marshal Fishack while he was interviewing Turner,” the statement of probable cause alleges. “White had her hands out as she approached him and stated to him ‘I did it. Take me away.’”
White was taken to the Hagerstown Police Department.
