An arsonist was sentenced to 105 days in custody after setting fire to a field.
In April, Elk Point RCMP were contacted by the Frog Lake First Nations fire department after Rhonda Wutzke had been seen starting a fire on an abandoned property near Frog Lake.
The fire department had responded and attempted to put out the flames. When fire crews left the area briefly to get more water, they returned to find Wutzke trying to ignite a second fire in a field across the road.
Wutzke told RCMP she started the fire intentionally, but hadn't expected it to get so large.
She admitted to taking drugs prior to the incident.
"There was a considerable amount of field that burnt down," detailed Crown prosecutor Tyler MacLean.
Honourable Judge Kathleen Williams described arson as "incredibly dangerous," and puts the public's safety at risk.
Acting duty counsel Jana Fleming said there were concerns about Wutzke's mental state at the time of the fire, noting "no right-minded person," would continue to try to ignite a fire while the fire department and police were watching.
According to Fleming, the 27-year-old is a meth addict, and without her addiction, it's unlikely she would be appearing in court at all.
Prior to the fire, Wutzke was charged with mischief causing damage under $5,000. Police had been called by Wutzke's mother on Oct. 2, 2018 after Wutzke had gone into her bedroom, locked the door, and started throwing things out of the window.
When police arrived, they found Wutzke in the room attempting to toss a mirror from her bedroom window. She was arrested with some difficulty.
During Wutzke's appearance in court on Tuesday, Aug. 6, the mother of two pleaded guilty to the mischief charge as well as arson causing damage to property, breaching her conditions, and failing to comply with a probation order.
Williams sentenced Wutzke to 105 days in prison and one-year probation with conditions to abstain from the possession and consumption of alcohol and drugs, attend treatment and counselling specifically in relation to addictions issues, attend a 30-day residential treatment program, and not to possess any incendiary items or materials while out of her residence.
"If the addiction is taking its course to lighting fires... the court has to do something to address the addiction," stated Williams.
Wutzke had 66 days left to serve as of her court appearance.
