P.R. mom arrested on arson charge
Woman angered over drug money, attempts to set house ablaze
BY GEOFFREY SHANNON
SLIDELL SENTRY-NEWS
PEARL RIVER -- A Pearl River-area woman was arrested Saturday after allegedly attempting to burn down a home with her two daughters inside after they failed to give her drug money, authorities said.
Belinda Smith, 47, 106 Cherrywood Dr., was charged with aggravated arson and aggravated criminal damage after she allegedly attacked her daughters, Gail Smith, 19, and Tracie Smith, 21, with a piece of wood and an axe handle. She also allegedly threatened them with an arson attempt after an argument broke out between the family members, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office spokesperson James Hartman said.
Sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 disturbance call around 9 a.m. Saturday, May 7, from Belinda Smith's home where they found Gail and Tracie Smith, along with 1-year-old Nevaeh Smith, Gail's daughter. According to the sisters, Belinda Smith had recently returned home after an all night drug binge and pressured her daughters to give her money to purchase cocaine, Hartman said. When the sisters refused to give her the money, Belinda Smith attempted to hit them with a board, deputies said. The daughters hid into another room and called the authorities while Belinda Smith left the house.
After talking with the daughters, deputies patrolled the neighborhood looking for Belinda Smith, Hartman said. While deputies searched the area, the mother returned to the house, attempting to set it on fire by pouring gasoline onto a laundry pile and attempting to light it, deputies said. Smith was also armed with an axe handle and had broken several windows on the first floor of the house before deputies returned to the scene, said Hartman.
Belinda Smith admitted to the arson and assault attempt against her daughters and was arrested at the scene. She argued with Sheriff's officials during her arrest that the home was her and she could destroy it without penalty, Hartman said. She was booked into Parish Jail on a $30,000 bond for aggravated arson and aggravated criminal damage. If convicted, she could face 35 years in prison and $35,000 in fines.
According to Sheriff's Office arrest records, Belinda Smith has visited Parish Jail 12 times since 1991. Two arrest warrants for failure to appear in court were open for Belinda Smith when she was arrested Saturday.
:scared :scared
Woman angered over drug money, attempts to set house ablaze
BY GEOFFREY SHANNON
SLIDELL SENTRY-NEWS
PEARL RIVER -- A Pearl River-area woman was arrested Saturday after allegedly attempting to burn down a home with her two daughters inside after they failed to give her drug money, authorities said.
Belinda Smith, 47, 106 Cherrywood Dr., was charged with aggravated arson and aggravated criminal damage after she allegedly attacked her daughters, Gail Smith, 19, and Tracie Smith, 21, with a piece of wood and an axe handle. She also allegedly threatened them with an arson attempt after an argument broke out between the family members, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office spokesperson James Hartman said.
Sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 disturbance call around 9 a.m. Saturday, May 7, from Belinda Smith's home where they found Gail and Tracie Smith, along with 1-year-old Nevaeh Smith, Gail's daughter. According to the sisters, Belinda Smith had recently returned home after an all night drug binge and pressured her daughters to give her money to purchase cocaine, Hartman said. When the sisters refused to give her the money, Belinda Smith attempted to hit them with a board, deputies said. The daughters hid into another room and called the authorities while Belinda Smith left the house.
After talking with the daughters, deputies patrolled the neighborhood looking for Belinda Smith, Hartman said. While deputies searched the area, the mother returned to the house, attempting to set it on fire by pouring gasoline onto a laundry pile and attempting to light it, deputies said. Smith was also armed with an axe handle and had broken several windows on the first floor of the house before deputies returned to the scene, said Hartman.
Belinda Smith admitted to the arson and assault attempt against her daughters and was arrested at the scene. She argued with Sheriff's officials during her arrest that the home was her and she could destroy it without penalty, Hartman said. She was booked into Parish Jail on a $30,000 bond for aggravated arson and aggravated criminal damage. If convicted, she could face 35 years in prison and $35,000 in fines.
According to Sheriff's Office arrest records, Belinda Smith has visited Parish Jail 12 times since 1991. Two arrest warrants for failure to appear in court were open for Belinda Smith when she was arrested Saturday.
:scared :scared
