Polson woman sentenced for negligent arson
JEFF SMITH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 months, 2 weeks AGO
Jeff Smith is news director for Anderson Broadcasting and a contributor to the Lake County Leader. | March 5, 2025 11:00 PM
A Polson woman, convicted of negligent arson, was committed in District Court in Polson Feb. 26 to the Montana Department of Corrections for five years with two years suspended.
The sentence for Shyann Brook Crabtree, 27, was in accordance with a plea agreement reached on Jan. 8.
According to court records, on Oct. 13, 2024, Polson Police responded to a debris fire on 13th Ave. W. A woman at the scene told the responding officer that Crabtree was there earlier and was asked to leave. Another witness at the scene told the officer that Crabtree had threatened to burn the house down.
A neighbor’s video surveillance captured video of the incident, which appeared to show Crabtree igniting a debris pile next to a propane tank before leaving. Surveillance also showed occupants of the residence attempt to extinguish the fire with a bucket of water.
Judge Molly Owen gave Crabtree credit for having already served 128 days in jail.
ARTICLES BY JEFF SMITH
Woman accused of writing bad checks, drug possession
A Ronan woman is accused of intentionally writing bad checks and conspiring with others to get them cashed. Matilda Maxine Pablo, 27, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson Feb. 4 to felony issuing a bad check.
Spokane man accused of stabbing in Arlee
A man from Spokane, Wash., with ties to Lake County is accused of an unprovoked stabbing in Arlee. Chauncy Franklin Whitwright, 46, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson on Jan. 29 to felony assault with a weapon.
Judge agrees to postpone trial for man accused of murder
The trial of Cameron Francis, 50, accused of deliberate homicide, was vacated and continued without a trial date during a pre-trial hearing in District Court in Polson Jan. 22.