(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Glencoe woman accused of setting two fires at her workplace, while it was occupied by more than 60 people, has been ordered to appear in Payne County District Court on Dec. 3 for a preliminary hearing on two counts of first-degree arson.
If convicted of setting both fires on June 21 at The Repair Depot in rural Stillwater, Desirae D. Carrier, 35, could be sentenced to as much as 70 years in prison and fined $50,000, court records show.
Carrier remains free on $5,000 bond, which the prosecution unsuccessfully sought to have increased by Special District Judge Katherine Thomas, court records show.
The Stillwater Fire Department responded at 8:57 a.m. on June 21 to The Repair Depot at 4409 W. 44th on a report of smoke that originated above suspended ceiling tiles in the women’s restroom, according to an affidavit by Payne County Sheriff’s Investigator Rockford Brown.
“This fire was initially determined to be from wiring,” but firefighters responded a second time less than an hour later for a second fire, the affidavit said.
Stillwater Fire Marshal Neal Moore “suspected arson and requested assistance from the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal’s Office,” which arrived about two hours later to begin an investigation, the affidavit said.
During an interview with the Stillwater fire marshal, “Carrier admitted to causing the second fire,” the affidavit alleged.
“Carrier had expressed being upset with the unsafe working conditions,” and added “she had made a complaint to OSHA but had seen no improvements,” the affidavit alleged.
When an agent from the State Fire Marshal’s Office “later asked Carrier if any of her coworkers had anything to do with the first fire,” Carrier admitted “she did set the first fire by trying to light the wires on fire,” the affidavit alleged.
“The building was occupied with over 60 people during both fires and both fires were lit in the lower level of the building. Most of the employees are housed on the ground floor; however, there are at least five employees who work upstairs.
“There is only one entrance and exit to the second level and both fires were in the vicinity of the stairwell,” according to the affidavit.
In seeking to have a higher bond set for Carrier, Payne County Assistant District Attorney Sierra Pfeiffer noted, “In the case at hand, the allegations against the defendant involve significant risks to the health, safety, and welfare of the community. At the time of the fires, the building was occupied with over 60 people.
“The fires were lit in the lower level of the building, and at least five employees worked upstairs. The fires created a great risk to these employees because there is only one entrance and exit to the second floor, and both fires were in the vicinity of the stairwell. If the fire had spread further, the employees upstairs would have been unable to exit the building.”
The prosecutor alleged in her motion to increase bond, “Not only did the defendant confess to setting both fires, but she also is captured on surveillance video in the area where one fire was set. Analysis of all the evidence and information determined that the fires were the result of a deliberate act.”
In a response to the prosecutor’s motion for a higher bond, defense attorney Sherry Boyce noted that the defendant has lived in Oklahoma all her life, graduated from Stillwater High School, and has resided in Payne County her entire life except two months when she lived with her father in Tulsa County in 2001.
“The defendant’s mother is employed with the city of Glencoe and the defendant’s stepfather is employed with the city of Stillwater. The defendant’s grandparents and cousins reside in Payne County. The defendant is not a flight risk,” the defense attorney successfully argued to the judge, who left the bond as set at $5,000.
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