photo by: Harvey County Jail

Abie Schnacke

A Lawrence woman who is accused of setting a fire at an eye clinic, bonding out of jail and then setting multiple fires two days later at North Lawrence businesses waived her right to a preliminary hearing Friday in Douglas County District Court.

The woman, Abie Schnacke, 19, is charged with one felony count of aggravated arson in connection with an incident on Nov. 13, 2022, at 3111 W. Sixth St., which is the address of Lawrence Family Vision Clinic, and four additional counts of arson in connection with fires set the night of Nov. 16, 2022.

Two of the four counts of arson relate to fires in two trash receptacles near Ten10 Liquor Store at 1010 N. Third St. — one in a dumpster next to the building and one in a trash bin near the front door. The other two counts relate to fires set in two recycling bins at 725 N. Second St., which is the address of Lunar Graphix, a specialty printing business, as the Journal-World reported. The fires set near Lunar Graphix spread to the building, resulting in damage to the business in excess of $1 million, according to the arrest affidavit in that case.

photo by: Contributed

Surveillance video from a North Lawrence business captured images of a person setting a fire in a trash receptacle Wednesday night, Nov. 16, 2022, at 1010 N. Third St.

Schnacke bonded out after her first arrest on a $15,000 own-recognizance bond, which means she was not required to put up any money to bond out but could have been charged that amount if she failed to appear in court. She was given a $20,000 cash or surety bond after her second arrest and has been in custody at the Douglas County jail ever since.

Schnacke was arrested the second time after reportedly barricading herself inside a portable toilet at the city-run support site for people experiencing homelessness in North Lawrence. City officials said at the time that she was not a resident of the camp.

Schnacke appeared in court Friday for her preliminary hearing but her defense attorney, Dakota Loomis, said that Schnacke wished to waive that hearing, at which a judge would have determined whether sufficient evidence existed for her to stand trial. Loomis said he has been negotiating with the state, represented by Deputy District Attorney Joshua Seiden, on a possible plea deal.

Judge Sally Pokorny scheduled a trial date for June 5 for Schnacke, in the event that the parties don’t reach an agreement.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The back of Lunar Graphix at 725 N. Second St. after Wednesday night’s fire. The fire spread into the building and caused substantial damage.