Bland v. State

GIVAN, Chief Justice.

Appellant was convicted by a jury of Arson, a Class B felony. He was sentenced to thirteen (13) years imprisonment.

The facts are these. Appellant and Phyllis Chaney were living together in Chaney's rental home in Anderson. They had been previously married but had been divorced for a number of years. Appellant occupied a basement room in the home and provided domestic services for the home. The pair had frequent disputes over appellant's drinking.

On October 1, 1988, the police were summoned to the home by Chaney who claimed appellant had stolen her car. On October 2, the…