Woman sentenced to probation for helping set North Toledo fires
9/11/2018Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge James Bates asked a woman charged with helping her husband set a series fires if she’s ever seen a victim’s body following a blaze.
Nicole Clark, 32, of the 300 block of Walnut Lane, said she has not.
“Arson is a very, very serious offense. We’ve had firemen who have died as a result of people starting fires. We’ve had innocent people in houses die as a result of people starting fires,” Judge Bates said. “So, it’s a pretty serious thing.”
Nicole Clark was sentenced to two years community control for a first-degree misdemeanor charge of complicity to arson. She will be required to complete 100 hours of community service, continue treatment at the Zepf Center, and pay $2,471 in restitution.
She will also be required to register as an arson offender for life.
Should she violate community control, Judge Bates could impose a 180-day suspended sentence at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio in Stryker.
Nicole Clark, along with her husband, Andrew Clark, entered Alford pleas — not admitting guilt — to the offenses in July.
Andrew Clark, 28, of the 1200 block of St. John Avenue, was found guilty of one count of aggravated arson, a first-degree felony, for setting a March 18 fire at 1201 Sherman St. He was sentenced to six years in prison.
Nicole Clark told Andrew Clark to burn down the home because she didn’t like the person who lived there.
Following her 60 days in jail, Nicole Clark said she is trying to turn her life around.
“I’ve never been in trouble in my life, at all. I’ve never been in jail, never. My soon-to-be ex-husband set me up to fail,” she said tearfully.
A divorce between the couple is pending, Nicole Clark’s attorney Jeremy Levy said.
Contact Allison Dunn at areamer@theblade.com, 419-724-6506, or on Twitter @AllisonDBlade.