Coventry homeowner pleads guilty in family arson case
NORWICH – A Coventry woman pleaded guilty to arson Tuesday, telling the court she poured gasoline inside her home and directed her daughter and stepfather to light it on fire.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 70-year-old Joseph S. Dietzman, 36-year-old Kimberly Koster and 17-year-old Chelsie M. Koster following an investigation into a Coventry blaze on Aug. 13.
Kimberly Koster pleaded guilty to third degree arson, a C class felony, yesterday in a deal with the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office that will sentence her to one to three years in state prison. Judge W. Howard Sullivan granted her a six-day furlough to get her personal affairs in order at the objection of prosecutors.
All three co-defendants were indicted Oct. 20 for third degree arson, a class C felony, and fourth degree conspiracy, an E class felony, after they allegedly collaborated in burning down the Kosters’ Coventry home.
Dietzman admitted his role in the crime Feb. 4 and pleaded guilty to fourth degree conspiracy. His plea agreement will sentence him to five years probation and includes partial payment of $5,000 restitution.
Chelsie Koster has pleaded not guilty and her case is scheduled to return to court at a later date.
Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese said Koster collected about $5,000 in homeowner’s insurance from a Broome County provider just prior to her arrest. He said both defendants would be responsible for paying the amount back.
Several area fire departments responded to the fire at 10:20 p.m. Aug. 13, at 1636 State Highway 235, after a neighbor called 911. The two story home and all the family’s possessions were destroyed in the blaze.
Firemen arrived to find the home unoccupied and engulfed in flames. Within a few hours, investigators inspecting the debris found evidence of foul play and contacted the Sheriff’s Office.
“I poured the gasoline on the floor and then I went over and baby-sat my grandson,” Koster told the court this week.
Koster said she had previous discussions with her stepfather and daughter about setting the home on fire.
Referring to just her daughter, Sullivan asked, “With knowledge and consent did you direct her to do that?” to which Koster responded “Yes, sir.”
Chelsie Koster’s indictment stated she participated in the incident “by starting a fire when she intentionally lit a match and placed it on a pile of clothes inside the residence.”
Kimberly Koster was released and is expected to return to court Feb. 28 at 11:15 a.m. for official sentencing.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 70-year-old Joseph S. Dietzman, 36-year-old Kimberly Koster and 17-year-old Chelsie M. Koster following an investigation into a Coventry blaze on Aug. 13.
Kimberly Koster pleaded guilty to third degree arson, a C class felony, yesterday in a deal with the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office that will sentence her to one to three years in state prison. Judge W. Howard Sullivan granted her a six-day furlough to get her personal affairs in order at the objection of prosecutors.
All three co-defendants were indicted Oct. 20 for third degree arson, a class C felony, and fourth degree conspiracy, an E class felony, after they allegedly collaborated in burning down the Kosters’ Coventry home.
Dietzman admitted his role in the crime Feb. 4 and pleaded guilty to fourth degree conspiracy. His plea agreement will sentence him to five years probation and includes partial payment of $5,000 restitution.
Chelsie Koster has pleaded not guilty and her case is scheduled to return to court at a later date.
Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese said Koster collected about $5,000 in homeowner’s insurance from a Broome County provider just prior to her arrest. He said both defendants would be responsible for paying the amount back.
Several area fire departments responded to the fire at 10:20 p.m. Aug. 13, at 1636 State Highway 235, after a neighbor called 911. The two story home and all the family’s possessions were destroyed in the blaze.
Firemen arrived to find the home unoccupied and engulfed in flames. Within a few hours, investigators inspecting the debris found evidence of foul play and contacted the Sheriff’s Office.
“I poured the gasoline on the floor and then I went over and baby-sat my grandson,” Koster told the court this week.
Koster said she had previous discussions with her stepfather and daughter about setting the home on fire.
Referring to just her daughter, Sullivan asked, “With knowledge and consent did you direct her to do that?” to which Koster responded “Yes, sir.”
Chelsie Koster’s indictment stated she participated in the incident “by starting a fire when she intentionally lit a match and placed it on a pile of clothes inside the residence.”
Kimberly Koster was released and is expected to return to court Feb. 28 at 11:15 a.m. for official sentencing.
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