Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Woman pleads guilty to arson in Las Vegas pet shop fire

Puppy Arson Arraignment

Sam Morris

Gloria Lee appears in Clark County District Court for her arraignment on charges stemming from an arson fire at Lee’s pet store Wednesday, April 16, 2014.

Updated Monday, Oct. 20, 2014 | 3:26 p.m.

Gloria Lee Pet Store Fire

Gloria Lee, accused of arson and animal cruelty in connection with a fire at her pet store, Prince and Princess Pet Boutique, appears in court Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014. Launch slideshow »

Gloria Eun Hye Lee, accused of setting fire to her pet shop to collect insurance money, pleaded guilty this morning to charges including first-degree arson, according to the Clark County District Attorney’s Office.

Lee accepted a plea agreement, pleading guilty to one count of arson, one count of insurance fraud and one count of attempted cruelty to animals, officials said.

Lee originally faced more than 30 counts related to the Jan. 27 fire at the Prince and Princess Pet Boutique at 6870 S. Rainbow Road.

The store has since closed.

Crews rescued 27 dogs from the fire, 25 of them puppies. The dogs, dubbed the “Arson Puppies,” were raffled off by the Animal Foundation earlier this year.

Lee is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 25 in District Court. If she were to receive the maximum penalty on all three counts, she could serve up to 23 years in prison.

Codefendant Kirk Bills, who also faces charges in the case, is scheduled for a Nov. 5 court date. His attorney was not immediately available for comment.

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