By MELISSA MANWARE
Charlotte Observer
A 16-year-old Charlotte girl, accused of setting her apartment on fire and leaving her 7-month-old daughter alone inside, will spend at least five years in prison, a judge ruled Monday.
Alexis Marie Flowe pleaded guilty to first-degree arson, prosecutor Bryan Crocker said. She was sentenced to at least five years and no more than six years, nine months in prison.
Crocker dismissed attempted murder and another charge in exchange for Flowe’s guilty plea.
Susan Weigand, Flowe’s attorney, declined to comment on the case.
Flowe was arrested in December, after she told investigators she set fires and then left her baby unattended in the smoke-filled apartment.
Family members had rescued 7-month-old Olivia before firefighters arrived at the Victoria Square apartments on North Clarkson Street. The baby was treated at Carolinas Medical Center and released.
Firefighters said it took only a moment to extinguish three fires they found inside.
Flowe has been in the Mecklenburg County jail since her Dec. 14 arrest. It was not immediately clear who is caring for Olivia.