Local woman found guilty of arson sentenced

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - A Lucas County woman was found guilty of fourth-degree arson and was sentenced Monday.

Court documents show Heidi Benrholtz, who was indicted by a Lucas County grand jury in January on two aggravated arson charges, one fourth-degree arson charge and a fourth-degree insurance fraud charge was found guilty.

Bernholtz withdrew her previous plea of not guilty and entered a guilty plea to the offense of fourth-degree arson on July 10. On July 31, Judge Stacy Cook sentenced Bernholtz to 180 days in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio. Upon completion of that sentence, she will be committed to a Correctional Treatment Facility for 90 days then to the Lucas County Work Release Program.

According to court documents, Bernholtz was accused of starting a fire on July 2, 2022. She was accused of starting the fire with the purpose of defrauding an insurance policy.

Court records show Bernholtz will have to register as an arson offender as a result of the guilty plea.