Woman Found Guilty: Convicted Arson and Burglary Case
Breakup and Harassment Communication
In a recent trial in West Ashley, South Carolina, a woman was found guilty. She was sentenced for burglarizing her ex-boyfriend’s home and subsequently setting it on fire following their breakup in 2020. The woman found guilty was named Toya Steward, 50 years of age. The Ninth District Solicitor’s Office announced on March 1 that Steward faced second-degree arson and second-degree burglary charges. The jury found her guilty, leading to a sentencing of 15 years suspended to 10 years for arson and 10 years suspended to 7 years, followed by 5 years of probation for burglary. Notably, Steward was acquitted of attempted murder.
On February 8, 2020, the incident occurred when Steward’s ex-boyfriend called it quits on him because she was harassing his pals on social media. Approximately nine in the morning. That day, Steward showed up to her ex’s house without warning, his roommate with him. Steward kicked in the door for over two hours and swore at it as his roommate refused to unlock it.
Steward sent a barrage of threatening messages and phone calls to her ex-boyfriend, threatening to take her stuff out of the house. She texted him 141 texts and made 127 calls to him during the day. She allegedly left irate voicemails, some of which were played throughout the trial, according to witnesses. Steward’s temper got the better of her after she was told to leave many times, so she smashed the rear glass door to go inside. She poured gasoline throughout the house, plundered it, took her ex-boyfriend’s belongings, and, unexpectedly, started fires in three different places. The roommate, who had sheltered in the toilet, was only barely able to escape the flames through a bedroom window after hearing an explosion. Steward made sure her ex-boyfriend was aware of her presence by leaving a trail of clues.
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Legal Consequences and Expert Analysis
Steward was arrested by Charleston County Sheriff’s Office detectives at her residence, where she acknowledged coming back to see the burning house and confessed to her crimes. Steward’s car, which was found with gasoline residue on the floor mat, was one piece of evidence; an expert from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division attested to these conclusions in court. Managing Assistant Solicitor Nina Savas emphasized the danger Steward presented to the lives of neighbors, firemen, and first responders, characterizing her offenses as unjustified. At the moment, Steward is being detained at the Charleston County Correctional Facility.
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