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LUTCHER — Carla Alexander, 57, of Lutcher pleaded guilty to simple arson. In March 2018, the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal arrested Alexander for setting an abandoned home on fire.

On the morning of March 29, 2018 the St. James Volunteer Fire Department contacted the Office of the State Fire Marshal to assist in determining the cause and origin of a fire at an abandoned wooden structure in the 200 block of South Airline Highway in Gramercy.

All but one wall of the abandoned home remained following the fire, with the location of origin believed to be the garage. Major damage was also found on a neighboring mobile home, where a disabled woman lived, and a second neighboring residence where the fire had spread.

Witnesses told investigators Alexander was seen sitting across the street from the fires, not alerting any residents in the area to the danger. The local fire chief also noted a trash fire call the previous week at the same address, which also involved Alexander.

Investigators determined, through interviews, that Alexander had been found in the garage of the abandoned structure before, without permission. Alexander later admitted to investigators that she had been inside the property at the time of the fire.

Alexander was sentenced to seven years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.