Credit: McCrabb, Richard
Credit: McCrabb, Richard
Stevens started a fire at 1716 Manchester Ave. on Aug. 21, 2022. Two neighboring houses were also damaged. She was arrested by Middletown police days after the fire. She has been held in the county jail in lieu of $150,000 cash bond.
Thursday afternoon, Stevens entered guilty pleas in Butler County Common Pleas Court to three arson charges that were reduced to third-degree felonies. In exchange for the plea, the remaining three charges were dismissed.
Stevens faces up to nine years in prison and will have to register as a convicted arson offender. The law requires that anyone convicted of arson, aggravated arson, or an arson-related offense register their address with their county sheriff’s office once a year for life when released from prison.
Judge Michael Oster Jr. set sentencing for Feb. 13.
Middletown police and fire were dispatched at 11:30 p.m. that night on reports of a working structure fire. Upon arrival at the scene, fire personnel confirmed the fire with heavy smoke exiting the house.
Multiple Middletown fire apparatuses arrived to battle the fire with mutual aid provided by Monroe Fire Department. Middletown Paramedics and EMTs were also on the scene to assist the occupants and fire personnel.
No injuries to the occupants and firefighters were reported.
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