Court agrees to delay hearing for mother accused of arson, child abuse

By Jackie Valley

Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 | 11:58 a.m.

The mother charged with arson in a fire that badly injured her 11-year-old son will return to court later this month for her preliminary hearing.

Citing the need for more time to collect evidence, attorneys for the defense and prosecution today agreed to delay the hearing for Juanita Carr until Oct. 22.

Carr, 30, has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson, third-degree arson and child abuse, neglect or endangerment stemming from the Sept. 10 incident.

Henderson Police allege Carr instructed her son to light her van on fire at the Silver Bowl because she was behind on payments for the problem-ridden vehicle.

When her son poured gasoline into the van and lit a napkin to start the fire, flames also jumped to his shirt, causing second-degree burns to more than 40 percent of his body, according to the arrest report.

This isn’t the first child abuse allegation made against Carr.

Clark County’s Department of Family Services has received 16 allegations of abuse or neglect against Carr, according to a report from the department. Investigators substantiated three of those allegations.

A report made in January 2012 resulted in the boy being removed from Carr’s care and the department forming a case plan for the family, the report states. Family Court closed the case Aug. 7.

Carr, who remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center, appeared in Henderson Justice Court for the brief hearing.