VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A Virginia Beach mother who was charged in connection to a fire that destroyed her home has entered a plea on animal cruelty charges.
WAVY’s Jason Marks reports Lamping entered an Alford plea on two counts of felony animal cruelty. The plea means Lamping does not admit guilt, but acknowledges there would be enough evidence for conviction if the case had gone to trial. The arson charge was set aisde. When the commonwealth offered to do that, her attorney says it was a no brainer.
In the days leading up to the January 2017 fire inside a home on Sullivan Boulevard in Virginia Beach, Monica Lamping was having difficulties in life.
READ: Stipulation of Facts Against Monica Lamping
Prosecutors say she was having a hard time paying bills and she just lost custody of her son.
She was also dealing with PTSD and depression. Evidence her attorney says will come out at her sentencing.
“You’ll hear substantial amount of psychotic and psychological health history at the time of the sentencing with I think will explain a lot of issues,” said Lamping’s attorney James Broccoletti.
Fire investigators say the fire was purposely set by Lamping. It left the home damaged and it killed her roommate’s dog, Nevada, and cat, Boss.
They were locked up in the room next door
Lamping went missing. She was found along with her children days later at an eco-village in North Carolina.
Her attorney says this has been hard on her.
“Very traumatic,” Broccoletti added. “(She’s) very remorseful and very apologetic. She is concerned around her children. She is concerned about the welfare of her children that is first and foremost.”
Lamping is facing a maximum of 10 years in prison. She will be sentenced April 15.
“She did not want to go to chance going to trial,” Broccoletti said.
