Mason City woman pleads not guilty to arson

MASON CITY — A Mason City woman charged with arson has pleaded not guilty.

A criminal complaint says 46-year-old Shelby Kloberdanz caused a fire at a house at 414 1st Street Southeast on the afternoon of October 23rd. The Mason City Fire Department at the time of the fire say their crews on arrival to the scene found light smoke from a fire that was almost extinguished by a neighbor with a garden hose on and near the doorsteps at the rear of the structure. The criminal complaint states the fire happened after an argument and Kloberdanz was seen fleeing the area.

Kloberdanz was arrested last month on a first-degree arson charge, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. She pleaded not guilty during her arraignment hearing on Monday.

District Judge Chris Foy set Kloberdanz’s trial for April 1st in Cerro Gordo County District Court.