Prosecutors say the woman had been sporadically harassing a gentleman for almost a month before setting his car aflame.
TRENTON -- A Trenton woman had been sporadically harassing a man for almost a month by pouring substances on his car, scratching the car and stealing his car covers, sometimes as often as three times per week, prosecutors say.
The culmination of the harassment came on the night of Aug. 4 when a white substance was used as an accelerant to set the car ablaze.
Flames soon spread from the car to the man's house where he and his wife were sleeping, a Mercer County prosecutor said Monday in a court hearing.
Authorities alleged it was the work of Cheryl Barnwell, 53, who is charged with aggravated arson for the Aug. 4 fire in Trenton than damaged the man's car and house.
Cheryl BarnwellWhen Barnwell, a lifelong Trenton resident, was arrested prosecutors say she had a gas can, a lighter and one of the victim's car covers in her car.
The man and his wife escaped their home with no injuries, officials said.
The prosecutor offered no information about why Barnwell allegedly targeted the man's car and home.
Superior Court Judge Pedro Jimenez maintained Barnwell's bail at $52,000 and said that Barnwell must first complete a mental health evaluation before she could be released on bail.
Jimenez said that Barnwell listed her most address as North Clinton Avenue.
Barnwell is also charged with theft in the case.
Greg Wright may be reached at gwright@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregTheWright. Find NJ.com on Facebook.