(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Cushing woman accused of setting fire to her trailer — while she and her two children were inside it — remains jailed on a first-degree arson charge, a sheriff’s spokesman told KUSH today.
If convicted, Kelly Ann German, 26, could be given a 35-year prison term and a $25,000 fine, according to the felony charge filed by Payne County First Assistant District Attorney Tyson Branyan.
German was arrested by Payne County Sheriff’s Deputy David Barnes at 11:40 p.m. on April 10 based on the opinion of two arson investigators, according to his affidavit.
Cushing Fire Department Arson Investigator Hamilton “advised me the fire had been set behind an electrical outlet in the kitchen. He further advised me it appeared paper had been stuffed into the wall behind the outlet and the paper had been set on fire.
“Hamilton stated there was no electrical or mechanical way for the fire to have started without having been intentionally set.
“I contacted a neighbor who advised me arrestee Kelly’s 6-year-old son had come to his residence and borrowed a lighter to ‘light some candles.’
“The neighbor advised the lighter was borrowed approximately five minutes before the fire department responded to the location,” the sheriff’s deputy alleged in his affidavit.
“State Fire Marshal Ferrel arrived on scene and advised me based on his conversations with Hamilton there was probable cause to arrest Kelly for first-degree arson.
“Kelly’s six-year-old son and three-year-old daughter were in the residence at the time the fire was set,” the sheriff’s deputy alleged in his affidavit.
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