RIDGEWOOD — A Beach Channel woman was arraigned Dec. 18 on charges of second-degree arson and fourth-degree criminal mischief in connection with a June 7 arson, the Queens district attorney said.
Francesca Vargas, 40, allegedly banged on the door of her ex-boyfriend Elvis Morillo’s home at 11-09 Irving Ave. in Ridgewood, looking for Morillo, said FDNY Marshall Edwin Quinn, according to the Queens DA.
When no one answered the door, Vargas allegedly admitted lighting a table outside the apartment building on fire, the DA said.
She said she saw small flames forming before leaving the scene, which damaged the table, walls and floor outside the apartment of Francesca Hernandez, the landlord of the apartment building, according to DA Richard Brown.
Hernandez smelled smoke and gasoline, observed the flames and saw Vargas leaving the building, who then left the scene in a gray minivan, according to the DA.
Quinn said that during his investigations he also saw fire damage and tests revealed the presence of gasoline, leading him to believe the fire was started on purpose, the DA said.
Vargas is being held on $20,000 bail and was scheduled to appear in court Thursday.
