The 22-year-old woman charged in connection with a large fire at an abandoned warehouse May 20 on Milwaukee’s north side pleaded not guilty during an initial appearance in court on May 26.
Ellen Stevens, who faces a single, misdemeanor count of negligent handling of burning material, had her bond set at $250, according to court records.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Marisabel Cabrera also ordered that Stevens may not possess or use fire-starting material or devices. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for July 7.
According to a criminal complaint, Stevens had posted videos on social media inside the warehouse shortly before the fire, along with videos where Stevens said she believes she set off the inferno by accident after discarding a burning cigarette. She had called the ordeal “devastating.”
The large fire prompted what’s known as a “five-alarm fire” response by the Milwaukee Fire Department, with the department bringing in dozens of firefighters and surrounding agencies responding to the massive blaze.
The property, once a large tannery complex, is owned by an organization affiliated with Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ, which has redeveloped several buildings in the area. The influential Black church, once led by Bishop Sedgwick Daniels, is one of Milwaukee’s largest.
Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Woman charged in connection with warehouse fire appears in court
Reporting by Claudia Levens, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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