Woman denies burning Park City mobile home

The second of two women charged with intentionally burning a Park City mobile home pleaded not guilty Thursday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Kimberly Jones, 48, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of aggravated arson, residential arson and arson.

Tammy Klein, 35, of Beach Park, pleaded not guilty to the same charges last week.

Assistant State's Attorney Eric Kalata said the pair are accused of destroying Jones' mobile home Feb. 22.

Police said Jones, who was behind on her lot rent and was trying to sell the house, decided to burn it instead to collect insurance money.

Police said Klein told them Jones instructed her to start a fire in the bedroom fireplace in the house, then take a burning piece of wood and lay it on the floor.

Police said after Klein did so, she took a shower and when she got out of the shower, the house was full of smoke.

Klein told police she woke up Jones' 10-year-old son and got him and their pets to safety. Jones was not home at the time of the fire, police said.

Police are also investigating fires that destroyed two other mobile homes Jones owned in 1998 and 2008, but no charges have been filed in those cases.

Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak scheduled a trial for both women on June 11, and ordered both to return to court May 19.