The three women arrested on Wednesday afternoon for felony arson and attempted murder face a $500,000 bail.
Wanda White, 46 of Turlock, Lannette Sullivan, 45 of Turlock, and Erika Clardy, 24 of Turlock, were arrested at the Turlock Police Department on Wednesday immediately following questioning about the cause of the Tuesday's fire in the vacant cheese plant on West Main Street.
All three women are currently being held at the Stanislaus Women’s Public Safety Center in Modesto with a $500,000 bail each.
White, who has a long criminal record, has previously been charged with felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor charges for possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, and felony grand theft of over $400 value.
Sullivan has also previously been charged with misdemeanor petty theft by the Stanislaus County Superior Court.
According to Turlock Police Department spokesperson Mayra Lewis, a verbal argument occurred between one of the female suspects and a male victim, which quickly escalated into a physical altercation between the two.
The male victim fled into the vacant building during the fight to hide within the rafters of the building. White, Sullivan and Clardy worked together to intentionally light the building on fire, knowing that the male victim was hiding inside. The male victim escaped the fire unharmed.
With $5 million in estimated dollar losses, the vacant building suffered heavy damage during the fire.
White, Sullivan and Clardy are all scheduled for Feb. 22 court dates at the Stanislaus County Superior Court in Modesto.
The Turlock Police Department is asking that anyone with information regarding the incident or those involved call Officer Frank Navarro at 209-668-5550 ext. 6619.
