Woman Charged in St. Thomas Aquinas Church Arson Asks For Reduced Bond

An attorney representing Tina Meyer, 51, who has been charged with first degree arson in a church fire, plans to ask a judge to reduce Meyer's bond today.

Meyer has . A hearing has been scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

A fire broke out about 9:30 p.m. Sept. 25 in St. Thomas Aquinas Church's second story near a sitting area. A couch and some carpet were bunred in the fire, which was quickly extinguished by firefighters. However smoke filled the building leaving a thin film of soot behind and heat meltedsome of the light fixtures which has temporarily displaced the congregation.

Meyer, who had been attending the church, was seen by several witnesses the night of the fire according to criminal complaints and was found around 12 a.m. Sept. 26 near the Ames Police Department with burns around her feet and a cut on one of her legs.

First-degree arson is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison.