2 min read

FARMINGTON – A judge set bail for a Eustis woman Tuesday who was accused of arson in April and now faces new criminal charges, $250 cash bail or a supervised contract outlining specific conditions she must abide by.

Donna Reid, 44, pleaded not guilty to charges of domestic assault, unlawful possession of a scheduled drug and violations of bail conditions.

She was arrested Sunday after a family member called police to report that Reid had assaulted her twice, Assistant District Attorney James Andrews said during Reid’s arraignment at 12th District Court.

In this case, Reid had a .17 percent blood alcohol level, a violation of her bail conditions on the arson charge, he said.

When she was searched at the jail she had prescription medication in her possession that didn’t belong to her, he said.

Reid pleaded not guilty this spring to the charge of arson after she was accused of setting fire to a mobile home she shared with a domestic partner in Eustis.

An affidavit filed by state fire investigators at the time stated that Reid told investigators she had been drinking beer and was angry about life before she started the fire and watched it burn a mobile home she was renting from a Wyman Township woman.

Reid was also charged in September with violating conditions of her bail.

Andrews requested Judge Valerie Stanfill set bail Tuesday at $250 cash with conditions of no contact with the victim and that she not return to the family member’s residence.

He also said that all the bail conditions remain in place from the arson charge including no possession or use of alcohol or illegal drugs and she is subject to random search and testing.

Carl Eldh, representing Reid as the attorney of the day, said that Reid has no source of income, would not be able to post the $250 cash bail and knows no one who could.

He suggested bail be set at $5,000 unsecured to let her get out of jail and meet with attorney Linda Sparks, who is representing her on the other matters.

She would be living in Eustis and is confident she would be able to stay with friends, Eldh said.

Andrews said he was concerned with the high level of intoxication and crime that seems to go together in this case.

“I’m not adverse to her release as long as she has an address where she would be expected to be found,” Andrews said.

Comments are no longer available on this story