PEOPLE OF MI V DEBORAH MATTHEWS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
October 2, 2001
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 227360
Wayne Circuit Court
LC No. 99-010434
DEBORAH MATTHEWS,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Cavanagh, P.J., and Markey and Cooper, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Defendant appeals as of right her bench trial conviction for assault with intent to do great
bodily harm, MCL 750.84, and arson of a dwelling house, MCL 750.72. We affirm.
On appeal, defendant argues that there was insufficient evidence to support her arson
conviction. In determining whether sufficient evidence has been presented to sustain a
conviction, a reviewing court must view the evidence in a light most favorable to the
prosecution, and determine whether any rational finder of fact could have found that the essential
elements of the crime were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. People v Nowack, 462 Mich 392,
399-400; 614 NW2d 78 (2000).
To obtain an arson conviction, it is necessary to show that a dwelling house or its
contents were burned by the defendant and that the fire was willfully or maliciously set. MCL
750.72; People v Lindsey, 83 Mich App 354; 268 NW2d 41 (1978). Where defendant gave a
statement to police indicating that she sprinkled gasoline on her boyfriend while he was sleeping,
and set him on fire with her lighter when he awoke, the trial court could reasonably conclude that
the fire was willfully set.
Affirmed.
/s/ Mark J. Cavanagh
/s/ Jane E. Markey
/s/ Jessica R. Cooper
-1-
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