An Ottawa woman, charged with setting fire to two houses in March, will be examined by a Central Illinois psychiatrist to evaluate her mental status at the time of the incidents.
La Salle County Circuit Court Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. granted a motion by Public Defender Tim Cappellini to have Dr. Robert E. Chapman, a forensic psychiatrist from Bloomington, schedule an examination of Terri L. James, 42, for possible evidential use in upcoming court proceedings.
According to official records, the alleged arson fires were related to James' unauthorized use of a credit card from the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Ottawa to charge "in excess of $100,000" and later paid "said credit card statements with funds" from the church.
The criminal complaint also accuses James of altering church financial records to conceal the alleged embezzlement. She has been church administrative assistant for several years — editing the weekly bulletin and handling the church's financial affairs.
James is suspected of starting a fire that seriously damaged a South Side home and attempting to set fire to another structure as a diversion on the city's West Side March 17. She was arrested and charged with arson and attempted arson after alert neighbors told police about a similar-looking van at both locations shortly before the fires were discovered.
The mother of three and the wife of former State's Attorney Michael James is now facing an aggregated prison term of up to 45 years.
Owners of the damaged home, Carol Kozlowski and Vicki Smith, were fellow parishioners and officers at the church with James. Smith is the chairwoman of the church's board of trustees while Kozlowski is the organization's moderator who conducts various church board meetings.
James has pleaded not guilty to all charges. She remains in county jail under $200,000 bond.
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