Sequim arsonist sentenced to drug, mental health evaluations

SEQUIM — A Sequim woman who pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted arson after reportedly setting a fire in an apartment she was renting was sentenced last week.

Kristen Gail Mills, 50, was sentenced to 12 months of community custody through the Department of Corrections, during which she will undergo mental and drug abuse evaluation and be assigned to treatment as needed, said John Troberg, Clallam County deputy prosecuting attorney.

She had pleaded guilty Jan. 30.

Mills will receive credit for the seven months she’s been in jail since her arrest, Troberg said.

She must also pay restitution, to be determined at a March 7 hearing.

Mills was not listed on the Clallam County jail roster Friday.

Sequim police arrested Mills the evening of June 29, a day after crews from Clallam County Fire District No. 3 were called to a fire in an apartment at a complex at 730 E. Washington Place in northeast Sequim.

Police said Mills started the fire, which did not reach other apartments in the complex.

They said Mills was in the process of being evicted from her apartment and was avoiding being served an eviction notice.

After the fire was put out, fire investigators found fires had been intentionally set in three areas of the apartment and that two smoke detectors in the apartment had been disabled.

Police arrested Mills at about 9:20 p.m. June 29 at the apartment complex’s storage units after neighbors called to report a suspicious person there.

________

Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsula

dailynews.com.

More in News

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office uses this armored vehicle, which is mine-resistant and ambush protected. (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
OPNET to buy armored vehicle

Purchase to help with various situations

Lincoln High School students Azrael Harvey, left, and Tara Coville prepare dressing that will be part of 80 Thanksgiving dinners made from scratch and sold by the Salish Sea Hospitality and Ecotourism program. All meal preparation had to be finished by today, when people will pick up the grab-and-go meals they ordered for Thursday’s holiday. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Students at Wildcat Cafe prepare Thanksgiving dinners

Lincoln High School efforts create 80 meals ready to eat

D
Peninsula Home Fund celebrates 35 years

New partnership will focus on grants to nonprofits

A mud slide brought trees down onto power lines on Marine Drive just each of the intersection with Hill Street on Monday. City of Port Angeles crews responded and restored power quickly. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Downed trees

A mud slide brought trees down onto power lines on Marine Drive… Continue reading

Photographers John Gussman, left, and Becky Stinnett contributed their work to Clallam Transit System’s four wrapped buses that feature wildlife and landscapes on the Olympic Peninsula. The project was created to promote tourism and celebrate the beauty of the area. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Iconic Peninsula images wrap Clallam Transit buses

Photographers’ scenes encompass community pride

Housing identified as a top priority

Childcare infrastructure another Clallam concern

Giant ornaments will be lit during the Festival of Trees opening ceremony, scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday. (Olympic Medical Center Foundation)
Opening ceremony set for Festival of Trees

‘White Christmas’ to be performed in English, S’Klallam

Olympia oyster project receives more funding

Discovery Bay substrate to receive more shells

Code Enforcement Officer Derek Miller, left, watches Detective Trevor Dropp operate a DJI Matrice 30T drone  outside the Port Angeles Police Department. (Port Angeles Police Department)
Drones serve as multi-purpose tools for law enforcement

Agencies use equipment for many tasks, including search and rescue

Sequim Heritage House was built from 1922-24 by Angus Hay, former owner of the Sequim Press, and the home has had five owners in its 100 years of existence. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim’s Heritage House celebrates centennial

Owner hosts open house with family, friends

Haller Foundation awards $350K in grants

More than 50 groups recently received funding from a… Continue reading

Operations scheduled at Bentinck range this week

The land-based demolition range at Bentinck Island will be… Continue reading