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Woman apologizes for blaze that burned a Plant City block

Angelica Lockett will serve house arrest and probation. She must also pay for the fire started with her cigarette.

By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published March 22, 2006

TAMPA - She already admitted to throwing a cigarette that burned down a block of Plant City's historic district in February 2005.

At her sentencing Tuesday in Hillsborough Circuit Court, in front of the store owners who lost their property, Angelica Ruth Lockett apologized.

"Every day I drown in remorse - every day I drive down the main street," Lockett said. "I am so sorry and so sad that this ever happened. I caused a fire."

Judge Debra K. Behnke sentenced Lockett to two years' house arrest and 15 years' probation, plus restitution, on one count of first-degree arson and one count of second-degree. She could have sent Lockett, 60, to prison for more than four years.

Lockett, who goes by the name "Angel," had pleaded guilty to reduced charges, after initially being arrested on seven counts of first-degree arson in connection with the downtown blaze.

The fire caused $3-million in losses and damage to seven businesses, according to the state Fire Marshal's Office.

"This is a very sad case for everybody," said Judge Debra K. Behnke. "The good news is nobody got hurt."

Lockett, of 1107 Shannon Ave. N, Plant City, had been drinking when she threw a lit cigarette on a quilt on the bed of her ex-boyfriend, Mark Simpson, the evening of Feb. 21, 2005. She was angry at him for smashing mirrors in her home, she said.

She wanted to burn a hole in his mattress and show him disrespect.

Instead, she caused $1,008,963 in damage she must pay back. She will also be required to continue counseling for her alcoholism.

At the sentencing, both store owners and Lockett's friends agreed that before the fire, Lockett had given most of her time to the Plant City community as a volunteer. She worked hard to improve the very historic area she ended up burning down.

"She's been for many years doing good, and now she's going to be remembered for doing this," Behnke said.

Alexandra Zayas can be reached at 813 226-3354 or azayas@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 22, 2006, 01:58:24]