Woman faces life in prison for arson on Reservation

A Leake County woman pleaded guilty in federal court last week to setting fire to a home on Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians tribal land in 2021.

Lashandell F. Thomas, 25, of Carthage, pleaded guilty on June 12 to an arson charge, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.

According to court documents, Thomas started a fire inside a Tribal member's residence in the Pearl River community in September 2021.

Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 10 and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine the sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns are prosecuting the case.