Pregnant Georgia Woman to Serve 5 Years in Prison for Arson

Authorities sentenced a pregnant Georgia woman to five years in prison after being convicted of setting fire to a car belonging to her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend.

Takelia Cherry also must pay $3,600 to April Jarrell for damage to the car not covered by insurance and attend anger management counseling. The 20-year-old, who is six months pregnant and has a 3-year-old son, collapsed on the floor sobbing when she heard the sentence in Troup County Superior Court on Aug. 20.

Prosecutors say she went to Jarrell’s home in August 2007 and used an accelerant to set fire to Jarrell’s new Nissan Maxima, estimated to be worth about $30,000. Prosecutors say Cherry and Jarrell had a verbal and physical altercation the previous night.