A Dauphin County woman was found guilty of more than 10 charges related to starting a fire at an inhabited Mount Carmel home in 2019 and will be in state prison for the next 11 to 22 years, according to The Daily Item.
Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor said Misty Dunbar, 26, of Elizabethville, hadn’t previously taken responsibility for her actions in response to Dunbar’s emotional apology during a video conference, according to the story.
Saylor said he considered the property damage, along with the firefighters who were jeopardized after being called out to fight the fire, in handing down the sentence.
“Until today, you haven’t taken any responsibility for your conduct,” Saylor said. “It comes down to the number of people you placed in jeopardy.”
Also charged in the incident was 24-year-old Michelle Rhoads, who was present during the fire. Both women were arrested the day after a fire destroyed the residence at 434 N. Walnut St., Mount Carmel, and severely damaged a neighboring property on Aug. 13, 2019.
Rhoads pleaded guilty in 2020 to a felony count of aggravated arson and was sentenced by Judge Paige Rosini to 30 to 60 months in state prison, the Daily Item said.
Dubnar started the fire intentionally out of rage toward Kelly Witmer, who lived in the home according to Mount Carmel Police.
During the video conference, Dunbar apologized for her behavior and said that she plans to turn her life around, as she was previously surrounding herself with the wrong people and fighting a drug addiction.
“I’m sorry I can’t go back in time and give you everything back,” she said, according to The Daily Item.
Before her apology, District Attorney Tony Matulewicz requested for the maximum penalty, adding Dunbar did not express accountability or remorse for her actions.
Saylor also charged Dunbar to pay $650 in fines, as well as court costs and fees. He also required Dunbar and Rhoads to split and pay at least $66,000 in restitution to the victims and insurance agencies.
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