By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The former Centralia apartment manager accused of setting a fire at a building where she lived and worked pleaded guilty today to one count of first-degree arson.
Kathrin L. Turner
Kathrin L. Turner went before a judge today in Lewis County Superior Court with her attorney, David Arcuri.
Turner’s eyes stayed on the judge as she replied, “guilty”.
Centralia police investigated after two small fires were set on two consecutive mornings at the 1100 block of Scammon Creek Road. Turner told responders she used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames that damaged an approximately 15 square foot area of exterior siding on Nov. 3.
Three days later, Turner was found in the bathroom of a common area of the complex with life-threatening lacerations and taken to Tacoma General Hospital where she spent 45 days, according to authorities.
Centralia police concluded she’d cut her own throat and wrists.
Judge Andrew Toynbee accepted her plea and scheduled her sentencing for 11 a.m. on May 10.
She faces a standard sentencing range of 21 to 27 months in prison.
Arcuri said the reasoning behind his client’s and the prosecutor’s thinking will likely be made more clear at that hearing.
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For background, read “Centralia apartment arson suspect held on $10,000 bail” from Tuesday January 24, 2017, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter