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Boardman woman gets probation in arson case at apartment complex
YOUNGSTOWN
A woman charged with setting fire to large trash receptacles in the Boardman apartment complex where she once lived will spend the next five years on probation.
Sandra Williamson, 57, now of Lowellville, was charged Nov. 18 with two counts of arson after she was seen on a surveillance camera setting fire to two trash bins at 2020 Wolosyn Circle in Boardman.
Angelina Tiberio, the property owner, installed cameras after more than a half-dozen fires were set on the property.
Williamson lived at Tiberio’s other property, 1996 Wolosyn. Tiberio said Williamson was forced to officially leave the property by court order in late January.
Williamson pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count and one felony count of arson.
She was facing as many as 18 months in prison and fines as high as $6,000.
J. Michael Thompson, an assistant Mahoning County prosecutor, and Atty. Michael Gollings who represented Williamson, entered into a plea agreement that Williamson receive five years’ probation and an order to stay away from the victims and property in question.
Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of common pleas court accepted the agreed-upon sentence.
He ordered Williamson to report to the Ohio Adult Parole Authority office on Belmont Avenue.
Williamson also was ordered to continue treatment with the Mahoning County Treatment Alternatives to Street Crimes agency.
She also must maintain mental-health counseling during the time of her probation.
As another condition of her probation, Williamson must maintain sobriety and regularly attend Alcohol Anonymous meetings.
Tiberio said the cost of the cameras to prevent the arsons was about $2,300. She said she also has been forced to pay the cleanup costs and damages associated with the fires.