Novfire1Jamestown (CSi)  A former Jamestown woman was sentenced Friday in Southeast District Court in Jamestown  to 15 months in prison, three years supervised probation, and pay restitution and fees totaling about $11,000, for charges related to a November 8, 2012, Jamestown house fire, that destroyed the Northwest Jamestown  home.

 Judge Jay Schmitz sentenced 29 year old,  Mary Kay Carlson,  now living in Mayville.

Carlson had previousy entered an Alford plea on December 2, 2013, to charges of criminal conspiracy, a Class B felony, tampering with physical evidence, a Class A misdemeanor, and insurance fraud, a Class C felony.

An Alford plea means the defendant acknowledges there is enough evidence to convict but does not confess to committing the crime.

Carlson was accused of conspiring with co-conspirator Derek Carlson, her husband at the time, to set the fire that destroyed the Jamestown home at 616 2nd Avenue, Northwest. Mary Kay Carlson is now divorced from Derek Carlson and is remarried,  now using the name Mary Kay Wilhelm, with  all court proceedings and documents referring to her as Carlson.

Mary Kay Carlson was also accused of tampering with physical evidence when she transferred suicide notes, funeral plans, a cellphone, a thumb drive, a computer, one or more knives and a lock of hair to another person with the intent that those items be destroyed.

The fraudulent insurance act charge alleged that Carlson made false or misleading information in a claim for payment.

Fritz Fremgen, Stutsman County state’s attorney, recommended a sentence of three years in prison and three years of probation along with $10,420 restitution.

 

Court appointed defense attorney, Scott Sandness, of Jamestown,  asked for a sentence of probation and restitution, citing Carlson’s health problems and her lack of a criminal record.

Schmitz said the fire put other properties in the neighborhood in danger.

Derek Carlson faces charges of arson and criminal conspiracy, both Class B felonies, although no court dates are currently scheduled, according to information on the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry website.

A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a year in prison and a $2,000 fine. A Class C felony is punishable by five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. A Class B felony is punishable by 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.