United States v. Atha Lennette Parsons

OPINION

K.K. HALL, Circuit Judge:

The defendant, Atha Lennette Parsons, was convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 844(i) (arson of a building used in an activity affecting interstate commerce) and § 1341 (mail fraud). She appeals, arguing that the burned building was not used in an activity “affecting interstate commerce” and that the district court erred by communicating with the jury in her absence. We reject these arguments and affirm.

I

In 1983, Parsons purchased a small single-family house at 205 30th Street, Charleston, West Virginia. Parsons lived in the house for a short time before…