April 04--A woman accused of setting fire to her Las Vegas pet store full of puppies was indicted today on several new charges, including insurance fraud.
A Clark County grand jury also indicted shop owner Gloria Lee on one count each of arson with intent to defraud an insurer and attempted theft.
The new charges are in addition to 31 criminal counts, including first-degree arson, conspiracy to commit arson, 27 counts of attempted cruelty to animals, conspiracy to commit burglary and burglary.
Lee, 35, and her alleged co-conspirator, Kirk Bills, 27, have both pleaded not guilty to those 31 original charges.
The fire broke out shortly before 1 a.m. Jan. 27 at the Prince and Princesses Pet Shop at 6870 S. Rainbow Boulevard, near Spring Mountain Road. Automatic sprinklers extinguished most of the fire, and 27 dogs, most of them puppies, were rescued by responding Clark County firefighters.
Surveillance video captured the store owner with another man pouring gasoline throughout the store and setting the fire, authorities said.
Most of the dogs were placed in new homes through a raffle by the Animal Foundation, which took them in after the fire. Two older dogs were being cared for by A Home 4 Spot, a private animal rescue group.
The new charges against Lee prompted Clark County District Judge Linda Bell to raise her bail from $310,000 to $340,000.
Bills remains in Clark County Detention Center on a $310,000 bail.
Judge David Barker has set a trial for July 14.
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