Crime & Safety

Woman Sentenced to Prison for Arson in Encinitas

An eyewitness claimed to have seen the woman set two cars and a carport ablaze.

A two-year prison term was handed down today for that destroyed two vehicles, a carport and damaged some residential units last year at a duplex in Encinitas.

Nancy Lee Ellis, 65, to a felony arson charge on June 9.

Deputy District Attorney Karl Husoe said Ellis drove to the duplex in the early morning hours of July 26, 2010, and set fire to a car belonging to her boyfriend's female friend. Ellis' boyfriend was out of town and she had been leaving him voice messages accusing him of being with other women, the prosecutor said.

Find out what's happening in Encinitaswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A witness at the duplex saw Ellis pour gasoline on the car and strike a match, igniting the fire, Husoe said. Ellis was arrested a short time later.

Husoe said the fire caused more than $100,000 in damages.

Find out what's happening in Encinitaswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

City News Service contributed to this report.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.