Suspect allegedly set couch on fire while victim was in home

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

A Seligman woman has been charged with two felonies after allegedly setting a couch on fire in a home where the victim was lying in another room.

Jenece Bohmke, 55, of Seligman, is charged with first-degree arson and first-degree domestic assault.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Deputy Billy Forester III, on Thursday at about 8:55 p.m., while the victim was lying in a bed in an adjacent bedroom, Bohmke allegedly knowingly and unlawfully used a disposable lighter to ignite a fire to the living room couch with the intent of burning the whole dwelling down.

The victim was suddenly awoken by the smell of smoke filling the bedroom, and the victim entered the living room and saw the couch on fire and room filing with smoke.

The victim described the flame as about three feet high, and the victim grabbed a pillow and was able to extinguish the blaze, saying if action had not been taken at that time, serious injury or death may have occurred.

After investigation, Bohmke allegedly admitted to having used the lighter when lying on the couch and threw it once the couch was ignited. Bohmke also sustained burns to both of her legs.

Forester noted in the statement there is a past history of domestic violence between Bohmke and the victim, with Bohmke having allegedly threatened to kill the victim on multiple occasions.

Bohmke is being held in the Barry County jail on a cash-only bond of $250,000. A bond appearance hearing is set for July 2 at 9 a.m. in the courtroom of Judge Robert Foulke.