Arsonist gets suspended jail sentence
By Donna M. Perry
,
Staff Writer
Thursday, October 9, 2008
FARMINGTON - A Superior Court justice Wednesday gave a Eustis woman a suspended six-year prison sentence for intentionally setting fire to a mobile home she was renting in April 17, 2007.
Justice Michaela Murphy also ordered Donna Reid, 45, to serve six years probation and undergo substance abuse and psychological treatment to the satisfaction of her probation officer, take all medications as prescribed and to submit to random searches.
Reid pleaded guilty to the arson charge in February and was ordered to undergo an evaluation prior to sentencing.
A plea agreement was reached in the case that capped the prison sentence to two years.
An affidavit filed by state fire investigators at the time of the fire stated that Reid told them she had been drinking beer and was angry about life before she started the fire. She watched the mobile home on Route 27 in Eustis burn before she walked to her mother's house.
Reid also had pleaded to guilty in February to a domestic assault charge and a charge of violating conditions of release in November 2007.
Murphy and Assistant District Attorney James Andrews and defense lawyer Linda Sparks met in chambers before the sentencing Wednesday. Murphy said she had read evaluations as well as letters from Reid and her mother, who was the victim in the assault.
Reid is the sole caretaker of her ailing father and mother in Eustis.
Andrews recommended six years in prison with all but two years suspended and four years probation, that she be ordered to take all psychiatric medication prescribed and to undergo counseling.
Sparks said Reid had mental health problems that have gone undiagnosed for years. She was diagnosed after the fire and is undergoing treatment for it, Sparks said.
"Donna didn't recognize the mental health issues but did admit to substance abuse," Sparks said. She had gone through a 30-day in-house treatment and attends alcoholics anonymous meetings, Sparks said. Sparks asked the judge to consider all that has happened when considering a sentence.
"I still don't believe I did what I did," Reid told the court. "I don't know why I did it ... I'm dumbfounded."
Murphy did an analysis of the aggravating factors and mitigating factors. She said the mitigating factors of seeking help, taking care of her parents, and having a significant mental illness that was previously not diagnosed far outweighed the other factors in the case. Reid also does not have a prior criminal record.
The owner of the trailer has received an insurance settlement on the older-style mobile home.
Murphy sentenced Reid to six years in prison, all suspended with six years probation. She also fined her $350 for the assault conviction and $150 for the violation of conditions of release. |
CLICK HERE To Show/Hide Discussion Thread - (10 Comments)
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Posted By:SANDRA at October 9, 2008 7:17 AM (Suggest Removal) Ok, Now she Burns the place down and stands there to watch it in April 2007 and then in Nov, 2007 she beats up her mother,she says she is dumbfounded why she did it. !! Ok, The problem I see here is that this woman is going to be the sole caretaker of her ageing parents."STRESS", "Stress","Stress"she already has had issues with her mother. She has a Mental health problem, but is now on medication,"Great" I sure hope they work, for the well being of them parents !!
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Posted By:Roger at October 9, 2008 7:43 AM (Suggest Removal) sounds like the fox watching the hen house to me
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Posted By:Clark at October 9, 2008 9:04 AM (Suggest Removal) Again, this is a case of people pointing fingers and making snap judgements. Her mental illness went undiagnosed for YEARS. She is the sole caretaker of aging parents. Did either of you step up to help her? Did anyone?? Hopefully she has the help she needs now. Maybe y'all should swap shoes with her for a while.
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Posted By:Mary at October 9, 2008 9:57 AM (Suggest Removal) How do you bring your children up to have any respect for the legal system in this country? We need to take a real good look at that system. If we really want to save tax dollars get rid of a few of these judges that allow people to get away with crimes. Last I knew it was a crime to burn down someones home. No punishment, no restitution.
On another note. "Clark's comment. "Maybe y'all should swap shoes with her for a while." Her parents are alive, her brother and sister are alive, her children are alive. She has no idea what a bad day is.
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Posted By:NA at October 9, 2008 11:18 AM (Suggest Removal) I guess it only takes 30 days to be a reformed arsonist, drug addict, and abuser. I must have been misinformed!!
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Posted By:chef at October 9, 2008 11:35 AM (Suggest Removal) another loony lose
thanks court system
maybe it will be your house next because she forgot to take her meds
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Posted By:DILLIGAF at October 9, 2008 3:02 PM (Suggest Removal) to many drug's sound's like the problem.
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Posted By:DILLIGAF at October 9, 2008 3:22 PM (Suggest Removal) I LIKE BEER, IT MAKE'S ME HAPPY.
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Posted By:Alias at October 9, 2008 5:49 PM (Suggest Removal) I hope that someone is planning on keeping a close watch on her parents!! If the abuse got bad enough for her mother to charge her with assault what kind of day to day care are they going to get. They better keep the matches away from her!! It is going to take a lot more than a 30 day program to clean her up!!! Probation is a JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted By:Kandi at October 10, 2008 9:13 AM (Suggest Removal) I want to post my comment to Clark.
Iam/was the owner of the building that donna INTENTIONALY burned down. Her and I were friends and I tried to help her. She is NOT the only care giver for her parents, she lives there cause there is no other place for her to go,her choice. This is not her first run in with the authorities. She broke her probation EVERY day and they didnt do anything about it so WHEN she does it again they can only blame themselves. My fear is that she will kill someone this time, her parents. The only help she will get now is from the drugs and alcohol that she will buy with her disablity checks that WE are giving her for being a alcoholoic!!!
THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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