A Cozad woman pled “not guilty” to charges in connection with a house fire and injuries to individuals on the scene last Fall. Fifty-one-year-old(51) Brenda S. Lawrance faces two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder, First Degree Arson and two counts of Second Degree Assault Friday in Dawson County District Court.
Court documents allege that on Sunday October 15, 2023 the defendant intentionally started three fires in a house she lived in at 1312 F Street in Cozad while two other people were inside the residence.
The information alleges that when two people tried to stop Lawrance, she used a plumbers torch and an aerosol can as a flame thrower causing injuries to both subjects.
Lawrance was arrested by Cozad Police Department. The State Fire Marshal was called to determine the cause of the fire.
Lawrance is being held in the Dawson County Jail on $500,000 bond, 10-percent surety. Bond conditions include no contact with the two injured persons.
Through her attorney Friday, Lawrance asked for a reduction in her bond. Dawson County Attorney Liz Waterman objected saying 10% of $500,000 is “an appropriate bond given the seriousness of the charges” and potential flight risk. After reviewing the case, District Judge Patrick Heng denied the request for bond reduction.
A pretrial hearing was set for November 15, 2024 at 10:00am.
