FARMINGTON – A Wilton woman pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal mischief and other charges Thursday, in relation to an August incident that resulted in the destruction of the house that her boyfriend lived at.
Angie Clark, 39 of Wilton, pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal mischief, a Class C felony, as well as misdemeanor reckless conduct in relation to that incident. She also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor violating conditions of her release, as part of a separate but related case.
Charges of arson and felony violating conditions of release were both dismissed as part of the arranged plea. Sentencing has been set for March 7.
On Aug. 6, 2018, Farmington Fire Rescue and a number of mutual aid departments were dispatched to 732 Industry Road at approximately 9:30 p.m., arriving to find smoke pouring out of the residence. No one was home when the fire broke out, and no injuries were reported. The house was not insured.
In an arrest affidavit filed with the Franklin County court by Jeremy Damren, a senior investigator with the office of the State Fire Marshal, he indicated that the tenant that lived at the residence had an ongoing issue with Clark, his then-girlfriend. The tenant had been staying at a friend’s house due to the argument, and received texts from another individual staying in a camper on the Industry Road property. Ensuing texts from that individual to the tenant indicated that Clark had left the property, later returning and hitting a bureau with her vehicle out front of the residence, and finally that the house was on fire, Damren wrote.
Farmington Fire informed Damren that most of the fire was initially seen coming out a bedroom window. Investigators determined that the fire originated on or around the mattress in that bedroom.
Clark was pulled over by Farmington police early the next morning. She reportedly told the officer that she had been mad at the tenant so she set a fire in a trash can and placed it on top of his bed. Clark was later interviewed by Damren, where she reportedly reiterated that statement and gave Damren the lighter she used to set the fire. Clark was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital for an evaluation. She was arrested after she was released.
The misdemeanor violating conditions of release charge stems from an allegation that Clark violated the no contact provision of her pre-conviction bail by contacting the victim in late August 2018.
A Class C felony carries a maximum sentence of up to 5 years in prison.
This is a good example of women being the antagonist in domestic issues. It happens just as often, and can be just as bad. Hopefully the victim can heal, and Angie Clark will just be a bad memory.