The girlfriend of a former Jones County Sheriff’s deputy and volunteer firefighter pleaded not guilty Monday in federal court to participating in his arson plan that bilked an insurance company out of $152,000.
Beth Ann Galloway, 42, of Olin, was indicted last week on one count each of mail fraud, use of fire and aiding and abetting the use of fire to commit a felony and conspiracy to commit money laundering. She pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday in U.S. District Court.
She remains on release with conditions pending trial set for Oct. 24.
Galloway is accused of participating with her boyfriend, James Plower, 51, of Olin, who was convicted for burning down his house in Martelle in 2013 in order to collect over $150,000 in insurance money. He pleaded guilty to mail fraud and use of fire to commit a felony last year and is serving 13 years in federal prison.
Plower also was ordered to pay more than $152,000 in restitution to the insurance company. He resigned from the sheriff’s department in March 2014, after the investigation started.
The indictment shows Plower planned to burn down the house because he couldn’t afford the needed repairs and wanted to rebuild on the foundation. He moved into Galloway’s Olin residence and started in 2013 to participate in a plan to defraud the insurance company.