West Newton woman accused of setting pickup on fire during argument

A 19-year-old West Newton woman was charged with arson, terroristic threats and simple assault after police said she admitted to throwing a can of gasoline in the bed of a man’s pickup and setting it on fire.

Borough police officer Michael Stefko reported he found Marian L. Warman sitting in the backyard of a South Sixth Street home where the fire was reported about 5:35 p.m. Saturday. Stefko said Warman admitted setting the fire.

Stefko reported in court documents the incident occurred shortly after Warman and John L. Palamara, who also lives at the home, argued at a nearby Burger King. Police said Warman repeatedly struck Palamara on his face and arms and then told him that she was going to set his GMC pickup on fire.

“Mrs. Warman stated that she did throw a gas can of gasoline in the bed of the truck while Mr. Palamara was standing next to the driver’s side of the vehicle, and she did take a paper, light it on fire and throw it into the bed of the vehicle,” Warman stated.

Police said the fire destroyed Palamara’s truck and endangered the house where a relative of Warman’s was inside.

Warman also is charged with reckless endangerment, reckless burning and endangering property.

Warman was arraigned before Night Court Judge Mark Mansour and ordered held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled April 15.