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A Minot woman faces multiple felony charges in connection with an alleged intentional duplex fire that resulted in serious injury.
Tonya Kate Legard, 56, is charged with four counts of endangering by fire or explosion-danger of death or bodily injury-extreme indifference, a Class B felony. She also is charged with aggravated assault-permanent loss or impairment, a Class B felony, in connection with the Oct. 9 incident.
According to the court affidavit, Legard reported a kitchen fire at a southeast Minot residence shortly after 11 p.m. and admitted to police that she set the fire by placing oil near a curtain in the kitchen, using paper towels to ignite a fire. An occupant in the duplex unit had awakened, entered the kitchen and slipped on oil on the floor. The victim's clothing caught fire, leaving injuries to hands, arms, back and other parts of the body and requiring transport to a burn center. Three other individuals, including two children, resided in the upper level of the residence and were home at the time.
Legard made an initial appearance in North Central District Court on Oct. 20, with a continuation of the hearing to Oct. 21. A preliminary hearing has been set for Nov. 24.
Court records show she has been designated an habitual offender. Ward County records indicate felony charges in the past 10 years related to drug possession, bail jumping, theft and criminal trespass.