The woman who set the aged but iconic Desert Sands motel on fire in May was sentenced Tuesday morning to two years in prison.
Jennifer Maestas, 37, pleaded no contest to one count of arson under an agreement with the District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutor Nora Wilson said Maestas set fire to a mattress inside of the East Central building May 24. The fire spread, destroying a large section of the motel and causing an estimated $1.5 million in damages and leaving it uninhabitable, according to investigators.
Two people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation and dozens were displaced. Red Cross volunteers set up emergency shelters to accommodate long-term residents of the motel.