WJJQ LOCAL NEWS
Rhinelander arson suspect appears in court

Thursday, January 5, 2012

The Rhinelander woman accused of arson appeared in Oneida County court yesterday for a status update.

Pamela Matt had previously admitted to setting her Rhinelander house on fire while her son was sleeping inside in October. The son escaped without injury. She entered a not guilty plea by mental disease or defect.

Matt's attorney Robert Hanson asked in court for further testing, though a doctor has already interviewed her.

Hanson said, "I think we need a psychiatric evaluation. I think I want to see her evaluated by someone who's going to do some testing. I think an interview is not adequate."

District Attorney Michael Bloom says the State doesn't require any more tests, but Judge Patrick O'Melia agreed to have Matt evaluated again.

Matt is due back in court January 26^th, she is currently facing charges of arson to a building without the owner's consent and first degree recklessly endangering safety, both felonies. She has two previous convictions for arson in 1996 and 2002.

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