N.Y. woman charged with arson in Bentleyville fire
A New York state woman was arrested Friday on charges including arson stemming from a fire four years ago in Bentleyville.
Kelly Lynn Lion, 46, of Saratoga Springs, was taken into custody by police in Saratoga County, N.Y., after they were notified about the warrant by Trooper Eric Graham, a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal who filed the charges against her in connection with the Aug. 31, 2010, fire. Graham obtained the warrant for the former Bentleyville woman’s arrest last month from District Judge Curtis Thompson.
Firefighters from Bentleyville, Cokeburg, Richeyville and California were called to the house fire at 101 First St.
The house was condemned after it was gutted in a previous blaze.
A witness told a fire marshal that Lion was seen entering the structure, then spotted running out of the building just minutes before the flames were seen by the witness. The witness did not see anyone else enter the building.
Lion allegedly admitted to the fire marshal she was in the structure just before the fire, but she denied seeing any smoke or flames.
She also reportedly told police three men were in the house, and they may have started the fire.
She is accused of setting the fire with available material in one of the bedrooms. The fire did $35,000 damage to the building, police stated in court documents.
Lion was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka on two counts of arson and one count of criminal mischief.
She was placed in Washington County jail on $250,000 bond.
A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 8 in Central Court.