Orcas woman held on suspicion of arson

An Eastsound woman suspected of setting her rental home ablaze is being held for psychiatric evaluation, police say.

The woman, Jessica Nesse, 30, also allegedly damaged a police car when emergency crews responded to the fire on Scenic Lane around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Nesse was arraigned in San Juan County Superior Court on March 17 on charges of malicious mischief for kicking out the window of a patrol car after being taken into custody at the scene of the house fire. She is the primary suspect in the fire, but arson charges have not yet been filed.

After her preliminary appearance in court, Nesse was moved to Island County, where she is currently undergoing psychiatric evaluation. Sheriff Bill Cumming says the assessment will determine if Nesse is able to assist in her defense. No bail was set.

“Arson charges will not be filed until the investigation is over,” Cumming said. “We’re looking at the origin. We have to be able to establish those facts ... first and foremost is her mental state and if she is competent enough to assist in her defense.”

Deputy Fire Marshal Paul Turner says investigators are trying to determine if accelerant was used to start the March 16 fire at the home Nesse was renting from owners Sarah and Kim Rush. The San Juan Sheriff’s dispatch received a call for a possible wildland fire on the North Shore of Orcas Island just after 1:30 a.m.

“The house has a detached garage and detached mother-in-law apartment that were unharmed,” Turner said. “The rest of the house is destroyed. It’s a total loss.”

Within less than three minutes of the call, firefighter/EMT Julie Remington reported 10-foot flames, just as Eastsound Engine 21 responded. Firefighters located a fully involved structure near the end of Scenic Lane off of Bartel Road.

At 1:44, a second alarm was called for additional help. Engines from Westsound, Deer Harbor and Rosario responded as well as both water tenders to assist Eastsound’s engines. The fire was declared out just before 5 a.m. and there were no injuries.

Cumming says Nesse’s erratic behavior at the scene led emergency responders to suspect her role in the incident. She was the only one home at the time. Her boyfriend had left the residence around 10:30 p.m.

“Her behavior gave clear indication that she had knowledge of how the fire started,” Cumming said. “As they began to deal with the fire, her behavior and statements were suspicious.”

Turner said Nesse was intoxicated at the time.

“There were burns on her hands and soot on her face, which indicates she was inside the structure when it was on fire,” he said.

The maximum sentence for arson is 10 years in prison, but Cumming said there are “many elements to consider.”

“In this particular issue, it’s why did this occur?” he said. “The court is going to take a look at the presenting issues of the incident and the person who may be responsible for it.”

Contact Islands Sounder Web site editor, Editor Colleen Armstrong at editor@islandssounder.com or (360) 376-4500.

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