Woman withdraws pleas for arson, gun theft
A woman scheduled to be sentenced on charges related to an arson and theft incident withdrew her guilty pleas in Butler County Court on Friday.
Donna M. Ackerson, 44, withdrew the pleas to counts of felony arson, possession of a firearm prohibited and misdemeanor unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in two cases before county Judge William Shaffer.
Ackerson was initially charged with 36 felony and misdemeanor counts in the first case, including felony arson and risking a catastrophe, after an incident on May 21, 2016, on Keasey Road in Winfield Township.
Pennsylvania State Police said Ackerson stole several firearms from a home where she had been living for a short time and torched the home to cover up the crime.
Police said while the homeowner was away, Ackerson pried opened a gun safe and stole nine firearms and other accessories, valued at $5,550.
She then took the guns to Fenelton Firearms, less than five miles away, and sold five of them and some accessories for $400.
Video footage at the store recorded the transaction.
A full report will appear in the Butler Eagle.
