Irvington- Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that Kelly Fowler, 45, of Irvington was sentenced to eight years in state prison today by the Honorable Sherry Hutchins-Henderson, Judge of the Superior Court.
In February, following a 9-day trial, an Essex County jury found her guilty of aggravated arson, burglary and criminal mischief for torching her ex-girlfriend’s West Orange home in 2011. She was acquitted of the more serious charge of attempted murder.
Fowler must serve 85 percent of her sentence before she is eligible for parole.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Jason Hollingsworth, who tried the case, on Oct. 9, 2011 at approximately 4:30 am Fowler went to the Maple Avenue home of an ex-girlfriend and lit a basket filled with socks on fire and fled the scene.
Moments after leaving the crime scene Fowler was stopped by a West Orange police officer for making an illegal turn but the officer let her go because a call came over his radio regarding the fire. At the time the officer did not know there was any connection. He told Fowler it was her lucky day and let her go.
During the arson investigation, the officer realized the name of the woman he pulled over matched the name of a suspect, according to Assistant Prosecutor Hollingsworth.
The two women had an on-again, off-again relationship, Hollingsworth said. And the defendant learned the victim was dating someone else.
“We sought a significant prison sentence because this defendant put lives at risk,’’ said Hollingsworth. “A message must be sent to her and others who would engage in such conduct.’’
IRVINGTON WOMAN SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS FOR AGGRAVATED ARSON
Newark