PITTSBURGH — A woman charged with arson missed a court hearing after being released without paying bond.
Last month, 11 Investigates first reported that a district justice released her on no cash bond, while another suspect facing the same charges was held on $100,000 bond by a different judge.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 11 Investigates Exclusive: Bond controversy in South Side arson case
The two suspects are accused of setting fire to a home on the South Side after an argument with the owner over a car.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 2 accused of lighting toilet paper on fire inside bathroom of South Side home…
Four people inside managed to get out.
Ciara Pro and Aubrey Panella were arrested and charged with arson and risking a catastrophe.
A district judge set Panella’s bond at $100,000 straight cash.
But another District Justice, Leah Williams Duncan, agreed to release Pro on non-monetary bond.
That drew sharp criticism from the District Attorney’s office, which requested a bond review and from police, who said a cash bond like Panella’s should have been set.
On Monday morning, three weeks after she was released from custody by Judge Duncan, Pro failed to show for her preliminary hearing.
Sources inside the courthouse told 11 Investigates they’re not surprised Pro was a no-show.
District Judge Jim Motznik, who spoke with 11 Investigates last month after Pro was released, declined to discuss the specific case, but said cash bonds serve an important purpose.
“You’re hoping it will guarantee that they show up for all the hearings, and if they do, they get that money back. The other concern is if that person is a danger to the victim or the community and if they are, a high bond should be set, or bail should be denied,” said Motznik.
Judge Williams Duncan told 11 Investigates last month she followed the recommendations of pretrial services and ordered Pro not to have any contact with the victims and report to pretrial services the next day.
Even without Pro in court Monday, the case went on.
After testimony from the homeowner and an arson investigator, the judge held all charges for court, and authorities say an arrest warrant will likely be issued soon for Ciara Pro.
Panella had been jailed since her arrest, but another district justice agreed to release her to a rehab facility.
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