Elk Grove woman pleads guilty to grocery store arson

An Elk Grove Village woman pleaded guilty to aggravated arson Thursday in connection with a February fire at Food 4 Less grocery store.

Pamela Dinter, 58, of the 1100 block of Cernan Court, will be sentenced Oct. 19 in the Rolling Meadows branch of Cook County Circuit Court.

Her jail sentence is expected to be six years, according to an agreement reached between the defense and prosecutors, said a spokesman for the Cook County States Attorney.

Authorities said Dinter walked into the store at 901 Meacham Road the afternoon of Feb. 18 and set the fire in the paper products aisle.

About 60 to 70 people were in the store at the time of the incident, but no one was in the aisle at the time the fire was set. One person at the store suffered a minor injury. Sprinklers kept the fire from spreading, but smoke damage to the building and contents was extensive.

Elk Grove Village police quickly identified the suspect by using store videotape. This included taking pictures of her car to a Saturn dealer and matching the make with vehicle registrations, said the spokesman.

Dinter received probation for a 1979 arson conviction.