Accused arsonist appears in Ogden court

OGDEN — The woman accused of setting a series of fires in a blighted downtown neighborhood made her first appearance in court on arson charges.

Marianne Mancuso, 47, appeared in 2nd District Court Wednesday via video from the Weber County Jail. Court records indicate she was appointed a public defense attorney to represent her, and the judge scheduled a hearing on her bail status for Friday. Mancuso is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.

Ogden police arrested Mancuso Monday night, accusing her of setting four of 10 arson fires in recent weeks. Investigators said Mancuso admitted to setting the fires, saying she wanted to jump start a multi-million dollar redevelopment project planned for her neighborhood.

— Ben Winslow