Woman pleads guilty to starting Santa Ana fire in July that sent man to hospital in critical condition

SANTA ANA — A 41-year-old convicted sex offender pleaded guilty Tuesday to setting a fire in a Santa Ana apartment building that severely injured a 30-year-old man.

Carrie Marie Immel pleaded guilty to arson causing great bodily injury, arson of an inhabited structure and arson of property, all felonies, and admitted a sentencing enhancement for an arson causing great bodily injury.

Sentencing was scheduled for Jan. 17.

Immel started a three-alarm fire just after midnight July 11 at the Saddleback Lodge at 1655 E. First St., according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

Eight to 10 apartments were damaged or destroyed, according to Capt. Tony Bommarito of the Orange County Fire Authority.

Eighteen residents were displaced and the Red Cross was called in to help them, Bommarito said.

The victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition with burn injuries, Bommarito said.

Immel pleaded guilty July 2, 2015, to a felony count of using an underage person for obscene matter, according to court records.

She assisted a co-defendant in using an underage girl “to engage in posing and modeling for purposes of preparing film and photographs involving sexual conduct by a minor,” according to Immel’s plea deal.

Immel was sentenced to 16 months in prison and given credit then for 468 days behind bars awaiting trial.

Another fire broke out at the Saddleback Lodge early Tuesday morning.