Hilo woman accused of torching Wainaku house

TURNER
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Police have arrested a 37-year-old Hilo woman and charged her with first-degree arson for a Friday afternoon fire that caused more than $80,000 in damages to a vacant house in the Wainaku area of Hilo.

A written Fire Department statement describes Ashley Nichole Turner as a squatter in the house at 5 Ohana Pl. and described the fire as a “probable arson.”

The home was destroyed, according to the statement.

First-degree arson is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, upon conviction.

Turner is scheduled to appear this afternoon in Hilo District Court. She remains in police custody in lieu of $50,000.00 bail.