Hobart woman gets time served, probation for arson
By Ruth Ann Krause Post-Tribune correspondent June 11, 2012 4:04PM
Updated: June 11, 2012 9:46PM
A Hobart woman who admitted she set an apartment building fire just days before she faced eviction was sentenced Monday to 10 years.
Lake Superior Court Judge Clarence Murray accepted the plea agreement for Tamara Liess, 57, who pleaded guilty to arson. Liess’ plea agreement spelled out that she would serve four years in custody, followed by six years on probation. Murray ordered Liess released from the Lake County Jail after finding that with credit for good behavior she had served more than the required four years in custody.
On March 28, 2010, Liess turned on the gas in her apartment. A neighboring tenant came over because of the odor and spoke to Liess, who lit a cigarette with a lighter and caused an explosion at the apartment building at 128 N. Lawrence St. Six people occupied four apartments in the building owned by Karen Conn.
Liess, who had moved into the complex 18 months before the explosion, had problems with the owner for most of that time and was constantly late with her rent payments. She was scheduled for eviction three days before the blast.
Liess had faced a sentence of 20 to 50 years on the original arson charge, which was dismissed along with five counts of criminal recklessness.
