Irvine Woman, 39, Sentenced To Jail Term After She Admits To Being An Arsonist
NEWPORT BEACH (CBS) — A 39-year-old Irvine woman pleaded guilty Friday to setting six fires in Irvine and was sentenced to one year in jail and a year in a drug-treatment program.
Jana Marie Spires could face five years in prison if she fails to finish the drug program or violates any terms of her probation over the next five years, according to Deputy District Attorney Andrew Katz.
Spires has been in custody since her arrest in May and also has 303 days credit for time-served, Katz said.
Officials said Spires set the first blaze about 9 p.m. Jan. 23, when she stuffed a flaming newspaper in a 2009 Mercedes-Benz parked at an apartment complex.
On Feb. 14, Spires ignited a replica acrylic U.S. flag hanging on a garage in Irvine. Later that day, she ignited a pack of cigarettes outside an Irvine home, causing the garage to catch fire. On April 2, Spires stuffed a flaming newspaper between the spare tire and license plate of a 2003 Hummer parked in an apartment complex lot, and put another burning newspaper on the front seat of a 2003 Infiniti in the same lot.
Spires also ignited pizza boxes on the playground of Springbrook Elementary School in Irvine May 21. An Irvine police officer spotted the blaze and saw Spires leaving the area.
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