ROCKLAND — A Rockland woman was sentenced Jan. 12 for setting a fire that swept through her home to the second floor and caused heavy damage.

Elizabeth Cole, 54, pleaded no contest to arson during her sentencing hearing in Knox County Unified Court in Rockland. The no contest plea stipulates that Cole was convicted and accepted the punishment, but did not admit any guilt to the crime.

Cole was sentenced to five years in jail with all but 90 days suspended, will serve four years of probation after her release and must pay $21,000 restitution to her ex-husband, who also has ownership of the house at 29 James Street in Rockland.

Requirements of her probation include that she cannot possess any incendiary devices, including lighters and matches, according to the court documents.

Cole was charged by the Maine State Fire Marshal’s office with two counts of arson in connection with the fire at her residence Aug. 30. Judge Susan Sparaco signed an arrest warrant for Cole on Oct. 3 and set bail at $5,000 cash.

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted the night of the fire by Rockland Fire Chief Chris Whytock.

According to the affidavit filed in Knox County Unified Court, Cole was found by firefighters on the back porch of the residence.

Cole told the investigator, John Wardell, during an interview at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport where she had been taken the night of the fire, that she poured gasoline in her living room and ignited the fire with a lighter. She said that she got married in the house and was going to die there, as well.

Cole and her former husband are divorced, estranged and he moved out of the house over a year ago, according to the court documents.  

Cole told her neighbor after she was removed from the porch by firefighters that she was “so sorry.”

She described her residence at 29 James Street as “her forever home” and was not going to leave and would die in it.

The Rockland Fire Department was supported by 25 mutual aid firefighters and although the house was heavily engulfed in flames, the most significant damage was in the living room of the house, according to Whytock. Firefighters were quickly able to extinguish the fire.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com

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