Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
Bessemer — The woman who started the fire above the Pines Cafe in August pleaded guilty to committing arson in Gogebic County Circuit Court Tuesday.
Hykesha Deshay Martin, 24, pleaded guilty to first degree arson, a felony which carries a potential life sentence.
During the hearing, she testified she didn’t remember exactly how the fire started but that it began after she poured lighter fluid on the bed in her husband’s apartment above the restaurant.
“I don’t really recall exactly what happened, but I know I did it — I just don’t know how. I know I poured lighter fluid on (the bed)” she testified when questioned by Judge Michael Pope. “... I poured the lighter fluid on the bed, and it must have started a fire. I just don’t know how it started.”
She later testified she was certain she started the fire.
She also said she didn’t know what was going through her mind at the time.
The charges stem from the Aug. l1 fire at the downtown Ironwood restaurant and apartments above it.
Although firefighters were able to contain the fire in approximately 20 minutes, it damaged the two second floor apartments and the restaurant below — which has remained closed since the fire.
Susan Graumann — one of the owners of The Pines Cafe — testified Tuesday the fire resulted in the restaurant’s ceiling collapsing and work to repair the fire damage is still continuing.
After the hearing, she told the Daily Globe it’s still to soon to tell when the restaurant will be able to reopen.
Martin entered her plea as part of an agreement that will have one count of arson-preparation to burn a dwelling and one count of third-degree killing or torturing an animal dismissed at sentencing. The agreement also calls for Martin to be sentenced within the guidelines that will be determined by the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Martin also agreed Tuesday she violated the conditions of her probation when she set the fire. Martin was on probation from an earlier Gogebic County case where she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver Suboxone and maintaining a drug house.
Martin is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 17.