PEORIA, Ill. – A woman has been formally charged with aggravated arson in Peoria County court.
Akendra Metts, 19, is accused of setting fire to the porch of a home near Howett and Blaine in South Peoria around 11 a.m. Thursday.
Three people were in the house at the time, but there were no injuries.
A witness had told police that a woman in an SUV, later identified as Metts, had poured gasoline on the porch and lit it on fire before driving away.
Prosecutors say Metts admitted to police she set the fire, saying she wanted to fight one of the residents.
Metts explained she went to a store, purchased lighter fluid and lighters, the drove to the house to start the fire. Metts was arrested when she returned to house after going back to the store to buy more lighter fluid.
Metts was released with certain conditions, including GPS monitoring, a curfew and no contact with the victims or the household.
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