Woman charged with arson after fire at Mason City Aquatic Center pleads guilty to lesser charge

MASON CITY — A Mason City woman charged with arson after being accused of starting a fire at the Mason City Family Aquatic Center last month has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

The Mason City Fire Department says they were called at about 8:40 AM on August 1st to the center, where they found a small outside fire that was quickly extinguished. New graffiti was noted by firefighters along with liquids poured on the concrete.

A criminal complaint accuses 47-year-old Erin Gansen of starting a fire next to the door of the pool house entrance. The complaint also says Gansen put motor oil outside of the chemical house, and used super glue and put it in the locks of the doors. Gansen was arrested a short time after the incident and booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail on charges of first-degree arson, a Class B felony, as well as possession of marijuana and fourth-degree criminal mischief.

Gansen originally pleaded not guilty to the charges and was due in court today for a pre-trial conference, but court records show that as part of a plea agreement, she recently pleaded guilty to the charges of reckless use of fire or explosives and fourth-degree criminal mischief,, both charges being serious misdemeanors.

According to the terms of the plea deal, it will be recommended that Gansen be sentenced on the reckless use of fire charge to one year in jail with all but 21 days suspended and be placed on two years probation, and a suspended one-year jail sentence on the criminal mischief charge. Gansen would also be expected to pay restitution.

Gansen is scheduled to be sentenced on October 8th in Cerro Gordo County District Court.