Prior child abuse, domestic violence convictions considered
A 16-month prison term was imposed in an arson case Friday, March 8 for a Golden Valley woman dealing with a variety of mental health issues. Heather Amundson, 39, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted arson for setting a fire following an argument with her boyfriend where they lived together in the 600 block of Vaquero Drive.
Prosecutor Jacob Cote said Amundson set the Sept. 11, 2018 fire that melted a chair and a trash can and caused relatively minor damage to the exterior of the RV in which she and the victim resided.
Cote said Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies tased Amundson to gain control after she kicked at them while refusing to come out of hiding from under a bed. She also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest.
It was noted during the hearing that Amundson suffers from bipolar and anxiety disorders, as well as depression.
“The defendant clearly has mental health issues that contributed to the offenses,” Cote said.
Mohave County Superior Court Judge Derek Carlisle rejected a defense request to place Amundson on probation and designate the offenses as misdemeanors to give her a chance to avoid felony convictions. The Judge said the crimes were too serious and dangerous and he ordered them to be recorded as felony convictions.
Citing a 2003 child abuse-related conviction and a domestic violence conviction just one month before the arson incident, Judge Carlisle rejected probation in favor of incarceration at the Arizona Department of Corrections.
