MASON CITY – A North Iowa woman will spend up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to intentionally setting a fire at an apartment house near downtown Mason City in April.
Jacque Sue Paulsen, age 32 formerly of Clear Lake, was scheduled to stand trial on July 8th on a charge of felony B first degree arson. Paulsen had pled not guilty in May, but at a plea change hearing on July 14th, she pled guilty to second degree arson.
On August 25th, Paulsen was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and assessed $2,710.00 in fines, court fees and restitution to the building owner, Russ Hardy.
Mason City police, fire, and Cerro Gordo deputies responded to a fire at 231 West State Street in Mason City at about 7:50 PM on the evening of April 21, 2014. Firefighters used force to enter the front door of the dwelling, where there are four apartments. A fire was on the second floor, in an apartment there. Approximately $70,000 worth of damage was done ($60K to property, $10K to contents). The multi-family dwelling was recently remodeled.
No one was inside the apartment but there were occupants in the other apartments in the building. No one was injured during the fire.
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