QUINCY -- A Quincy woman facing multiple counts of arson is seeking funds to retain an expert witness.
Lori Ann Thompson's attorney, Tony Cameron, filed a motion seeking funds to hire Springfield psychiatrist Dr. Terry Killian, who previously completed a mental fitness examination of Thompson.
A motion hearing was set for Jan. 10 after a brief status hearing Wednesday in Adams County Circuit Court.
In the motion, Cameron wrote that Killian said that he was certain there is "some mitigation" on Thompson's mental state, "but he could not explore it because the Deputy would not give him privacy with Defendant." Killian told Cameron that Adams County is the only county to require a deputy present in the room as opposed to remaining in one's line of sight.
Cameron noted that Thompson's family lacks resources to investigate her mental status, and Thompson is indigent since she is being held in the Adams County Jail.
Thompson, 55, faces one count of aggravated arson and one count of residential arson in connection to a July 2 fire at 2424 Curved Creek. She was indicted on the charges July 6.
She previously had been indicted on March 29 on charges of one count of aggravated arson and five counts of residential arson. The Quincy Police Department said Thompson became a suspect after investigations into fires that occurred Dec. 1, 2016, at 2317 Waters Court and Oct. 4, 2017, at 3206 Rutledge Place. The Quincy Fire Department and insurance investigators assisted in the investigations.
During those investigations, police said they learned that Thompson was a suspect in three fires at 2436 Curved Creek Road in Adams County that occurred Oct. 11, Nov. 8 and Nov. 10, 2016. The Tri-Township Fire Protection District responded to those fires.
She is accused of setting fires Oct. 4, 2017, at 3206 and 4206 Rutledge Place; Dec. 1, 2016, at 2317 Waters Court; Nov. 8 and 10, 2016, at 2436 Curved Creek; and Oct. 11, 2016, at 2436 Curved Creek. She was arrested on the charges April 4.
Cameron also filed a motion seeking to sever charges in the two cases, saying the alleged offenses occurred at different times and locations and that the charges were not based on the same act.
Thompson is being held in the Adams County Jail on $5 million bond.
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