Beatrice Woman Receives Probation for Apartment Building Fire

BEATRICE – A Beatrice woman has been ordered to serve a three-year probation sentence for a fire that did over $30,000 damage to a local apartment building and sent one man to a hospital.
36-year-old Alesha Acevedo was also ordered to serve 90-days in Gage County Jail, but with 97 days credit for time in custody, won’t have to spend more time behind bars.

She blamed the fire on an alcohol addiction and seizures, speaking before Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner.
"I was incapacitated and was unable to help. Your honor, I wanted to be clear I fully take responsibility for my actions.....but this fire was a horrible accident".
Acevedo was convicted of attempted 2nd degree arson, felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor criminal mischief, for a July 10th, 2018 fire at a six-unit apartment building at 711 Lincoln Street just east of the Gage County Courthouse.

Judge Schreiner didn’t agree with Acevedo’s explanation for the fire. He said Acevedo “blew into town with a bunch of candles and a drinking problem” and cost a business owner $33,000. The judge noted the fire happened after Acevedo had been to a bar.
"I remember lighting my candle and incense that I alway have on....the next thing I remember is fire in my face and everything was a blur from there. You were blacked out drunk, I don't believe you had a seizure, I just don't. You were blacked out drunk", the judge said.

At the time of the fire, investigating officers said Acevedo had gotten into an earlier altercation with the apartment owner and after getting kicked out of the apartment, allegedly said, “if I can’t live here, no one can”.

The judge said he didn’t order restitution, because Acevedo has no money. The judge said the probation sentence provides the only opportunity for Acevedo to pay back the owner.
Schreiner told Acevedo, "if I put you in prison, we're just stuck with you. I'm not opposed to doing that, but I want to put us in a situation where you're able to do something other than take from this community".

Court costs of $219 were deducted from appearance bond money, in the case.

In the fire, one male apartment occupant was taken to a hospital for treatment of burns. Acevedo was observed to have singed eyebrows and eyelashes. Acevedo handed investigators a lighter that she had in her pocket.