Woman faces felony arson charges

Melissa Soneson is facing two counts of felony arson and other misdemeanor charges after allegedly starting two fires on Thursday, August 26.

At 8:49 a.m. that morning, Sheriff Kraushaar and Deputy Cox responded to a call on 330 Lane 12 for a report of a motorhome on fire.

When they arrived, the motorhome was fully engulfed in flames and the Thermopolis Fire Department was actively fighting the fire. 

Sheriff Kraushaar spoke with the owner of the motorhome, Melissa Sonensen, who informed him she had been drinking vodka when she lit a cigarette and then passed out. She believed that the cigarette fell out of her hands, which landed on a pile of loose paper, then started a fire. Melissa felt the heat of the fire and then awoke. She tried to put out the fire with no avail. Melissa's estranged husband, Brian Sonesen, arrived on scene a short time later and tried to put the fire out with a garden hose but was unsuccessful.

Melissa agreed to a portable breath test and it showed a reading of 0.089. Deputy Cox then transported Melissa to the Paintbrush Inn after she applied to receive emergency funds. Prior to arriving at the motel, Melissa agreed to do a urine test and its results showed a presumptive positive for meth and THC. Melissa was dropped off at the Paintbrush Inn. Deputy Cox then cleared from the call. 

Later the same day, at 12:51 p.m. Thermopolis police officer Scott Gardner, Deputy Cox and Sheriff Kraushaar responded to a call on 122 Highway 20 South, lot #45 for a report of a mobile home fire. This is the residence of Briana and Brian Sonesen, father and daughter.

Briana reportedly said she heard items being thrown around the bedroom and popping sounds. Melissa told the law enforcement officers that she yelled for Briana to get out of the house. Briana then noticed smoke coming from the bedroom and then she gathered her two-year-old son and exited the home. 

After the house was extinguished, Thermopolis police Sergeant Pat Cornwell and Sheriff Kraushaar stayed until the State Fire Marshall arrived on scene. While waiting, Sheriff Kraushaar spoke with a neighbor.

The neighbor informed Sheriff Kraushaar she saw Melissa walking away from space #45 while wearing red shorts and a striped t-shirt. 

While Sheriff Kraushaar was staying on the scene, Deputy Cox went to the Paintbrush Inn and located Melissa passed out in her bed. Deputy Cox then took Melissa into investigative detention. Melissa told Deputy Cox that she only had left the motel to go to Maverik. 

Deputy Cox viewed the security cameras at the Paintbrush Inn and confirmed Melissa walked to Maverik. The footage also showed Melissa leaving the motel heading west or south and was gone for approximately 33 minutes before returning.

Melissa was then placed under arrest for intoxicated pedestrian on a roadway in violation of Wyoming State Statute 31-5-612. When she was arrested, she was in possession of a lighter and cigarettes.

The Wyoming Fire Marshall investigated the fire at 122 Highway 20 South, space #45, and determined that the fire was started by someone lighting a roll of toilet paper on fire, which was approximately 18 inches below the only window in the master bathroom. The window to the master bathroom is located around where the neighbor stated she saw Melissa.

On Friday, August 27, Sheriff Kraushaar, Sergeant Cornwell and Deputy Cox interviewed Melissa at the Law Enforcement Center. She was charged as being in violation of Wyoming State Statute 6-3-101 for arson in the first degree. 

Later in the interview, Melissa's alleged actions in the burning of 122 Highway 20 South caused her to be charged with a second count of arson in the first degree.

Circuit Court Judge Edward Luhm set Melissa's bond as a $25,000 cash bond.

As of Tuesday, she remained in the Hot Springs County jail.