CLEARFIELD – A DuBois woman accused of setting a fire in a restroom stall at a local club after a bartender refused to serve her tendered a guilty plea Tuesday in Clearfield County Court.
Desiree M. Updyke, 32, of DuBois pleaded guilty to 19 counts of arson-danger of death or bodily injury, arson-inhabited building, risking catastrophe, criminal mischief, 19 counts of recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct.
The charges against Updyke were the result of a Nov. 15, 2015 fire investigation by the Sandy Township police and fire departments and the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal at the Sandy Club on Forest Avenue in DuBois.
The case was scheduled for a four-day trial to begin Tuesday. However, Updyke appeared before Senior Judge David E. Grine of Centre County to tender a guilty plea. He accepted her guilty plea and ordered for a pre-sentencing investigation.
Updyke will serve a minimum of 22 months in state prison; her maximum sentence will be determined by the judge, said Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. She will appear back in court at a later date for her sentencing.
According to a previously published police report on GANT News, a fire caused extensive damage to the restroom at the Sandy Club. Investigators determined the fire originated on the floor in the women’s restroom.
Also, investigators determined that a toilet paper roll was deliberately removed from its dispenser. It was then put on the floor along with loose toilet paper.
According to testimony at the preliminary hearing, Updyke was at the club with her husband drinking, and toward the end of the night, the bartender refused to serve her. She went into the restroom and shortly after she came back, smoke was observed coming from inside it.
When investigators reviewed surveillance, Updyke was seen entering the restroom with a lit cigarette. She was inside for four minutes before coming back out. Shortly after, smoke was visible and no one else had entered the restroom.
Investigators determined that the fire originated in the first restroom stall and its cause was direct flame by match or lighter.
Click here to read complete coverage from the preliminary hearing.
