Wednesday, December 30th, 2020
Woman charged with arson
Montezuma mobile home caught fire
By Sydney Albert
CELINA - A Montezuma woman faces arson charges related to an October fire that officials had quickly deemed suspicious.
Natasha M. Thomas, 30, made her initial appearance in Mercer County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday to face charges of aggravated arson, a second-degree felony, and arson, a fourth-degree felony.
According to her indictment, she is accused of knowingly causing harm or attempting to cause harm to the property of Kenneth Ridder at 5411 Lakeside Drive, Lot 11, Montezuma.
Montezuma firefighters reportedly responded to the property at 2:24 p.m. Oct. 29 after receiving a call that a mobile home was on fire. Everyone reportedly was out of the structure, and smoke was showing.
Shortly after firefighters arrived, emergency medical squad units and mutual-aid responders from the Celina Fire Department were told to disregard the call, and the State Fire Marshal was contacted regarding a "suspicious fire."
Thomas is free on a recognizance bond. An attorneys conference is scheduled for Jan. 13.
