A woman has been arrested and charged with arson after allegedly setting fire to a stranger’s porch, telling police she did it because she saw a sign outside that said “Witches Welcome.”
Michelle Young, 46, from Burlington, Iowa, was arrested on Tuesday and her mugshot has since gone viral, showing her smiling maniacally.
She now faces charges of a serious misdemeanor for the reckless use of fire, explosives and destructive devices.
Young was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia, which is a simple misdemeanor.
In court on Wednesday, the judge set her bail at $5,000 (£3,900) in cash.
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Young allegedly also told police she saw a sign that read “Witches Welcome” and said, as she considers herself a witch, she decided to light some items on the porch on fire.
Michelle reassured the officers she had no intention of hurting anyone or letting the fire get out of control.
After being taken to the police station, Michelle spoke with detectives. She explained she had spent about two hours wandering around Vineyard Street while picking up various items including a car’s taillight, tin foil and a yellow flag for someone’s lawn.
Young stated that she sat on a porch chair and smoked a cigarette. She knocked again and, when there was still no response, she allegedly set the items she had with her alight.
She will have a preliminary hearing on March 29, 2024.
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