NEWS RELEASE

RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT

31 Riverside Road
Riverside, Illinois 60546

February 11, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Chief Tom Weitzel

708 447 2127 tweitzel@riverside.il.us

Arson Suspect Pleads Guilty

Chicago resident charged with drug-induced arson pleads guilty in Maywood courthouse

On February 11, 2015, Chicago resident, Linda B. Lopez, pled guilty to arson. Ms. Lopez was
originally charged with aggravated arson in April 2013. In the original arson case, the defendant
set fire to an apartment inside an apartment building located in the 2900 block of South Harlem.
In the complaint, it was alleged that the defendant set the apartment on fire because her live-in
boyfriend had ingested all of her cannabis while she was sleeping. An argument then broke out
when the defendant woke up and she became violent and a fight ensued. Ms. Lopez poured
perfume on the tiles in the hallway of the apartment building and then ignited them with a lighter.
On Wednesday Ms. Lopez, 35, of the 2800 block of South Drake in Chicago pled guilty to
residential arson (class 1 felony). This was a reduced charge from aggravated arson. She was
sentenced to 4 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and $1,000.00 restitution.
Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel stated, Considering the fact that the building was
occupied by tenants when the fire was purposely set, I believe Ms. Lopez's sentence is
appropriate. Chief Weitzel went on to say, What is not appropriate is when the original bond
hearing was held on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, Maywood Circuit Court Judge Ann Finley-Collins
originally set bond at $20,000.00, however the Cook County State's Attorney had requested a
$500,000.00 bond. The bond set by Judge Ann Finley-Collins was completely inappropriate at
the time.
Ms. Lopez was taken into custody immediately following Wednesday plea agreement.