MASON CITY – A North Iowa woman jailed after a fire near downtown Mason City in April and accused of felony arson has pleaded guilty.
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. Records did not indicate a plea deal.
Paulsen is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25th.
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 is owned by Russ Hardy and was recently remodeled.
No one was inside the apartment at 231 West State Street but there were occupants in the other apartments in the building. No one was injured during the fire.
PLED GUILTY
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