Rogers pleads guilty to arson
BENTONVILLE — A Pea Ridge woman was placed on probation Monday after admitting she set a house on fire.
Tammy Rogers, 46, pleaded guilty to arson, a Class A felony. She faced from six to 30 years in prison if convicted, but the case was resolved through a plea agreement reached by attorney Jay Saxton and Samuel Martin, deputy prosecutor.
Rogers was arrested May 31. Pea Ridge police and fire personnel initially received a call at 11:12 p.m. May 30 concerning a house fire and dead body at 2010 Greenwood Cove, according to reports.
Police found Rogers unresponsive in the yard. She was taken from the scene by ambulance.
Mike Marler, a Pea Ridge patrolman, said he found Rogers with a lighter in her hand. Marler said he overheard Rogers say she had used gasoline to set fire to her house, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Rogers later was interviewed at the hospital where she admitted setting the fire.
A gas can was found in the home and police found video of Rogers purchasing the gas can from a convenience store, according to court documents.
Circuit Judge Robin Green accepted the plea agreement and Rogers’ guilty plea.
Rogers was placed on six years of state-supervised probation with Act 346, which means her conviction can be expunged if she successfully completes probation.
She was sentenced to 120 days in the Benton County Jail, but received credit for 205 days she spent in custody awaiting trial. She also must pay $1,920 in court costs.