“I’m guilty and I did it,” a Butler woman charged with arson at her apartment complex earlier this month told District Judge William Fullerton at her preliminary hearing Monday.

Rebecca L. Allison, 58, representing herself, waived her right to counsel when she appeared before Fullerton and insisted on having a hearing.

Allison was charged by city police Dec. 10 with one count of felony arson, five counts of felony risking catastrophe and five counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment following a fire evacuation earlier that day at an apartment complex on East Wayne Street.

When Fullerton asked Allison why she refused counsel, she said she felt she could say anything that needed to be said.

“I’m guilty and I did it,” she said.

Fullerton further explained that the purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine if there is enough evidence for a sentence court trial.

“I’m not going to decide if you’re guilty or not, that’s for a jury to decide,” Fullerton said.

Allison further insisted they proceed to a hearing.

“I already know there’s enough evidence against me,” she said.

Investigating officer Benjamin Rogers was called by assistant district attorney Laura Pitchford to give testimony.

Rogers said that when he arrived at the scene of the fire, a resident of the apartment complex told him that several days prior, she had heard Allison threaten to burn the building.

“She stated that a resident had, a couple days prior, stated ‘If these people don’t stop messing with me, I’ll catch this whole building on fire,’” Rogers said.

The cause of the fire in Allison’s apartment was determined to be arson, Rogers said, as a pack of matches were on the table 3 feet from where the fire began in a kitchen trashcan. The table had strike marks on it, and the circuit breakers had been turned off.

Rogers said witnesses reported seeing a woman matching Allison’s description leave the apartment complex shortly before the fire was detected. She was taken into custody that night.

At the time of her arrest, police said Allison’s mother revealed via phone call that her daughter had previously burned an apartment in El Paso, Texas.

Pitchford asked if Allison had said anything regarding the alleged crime.

“She said she did it here, that there was enough evidence to take it past a preliminary hearing,” Rogers said.

Allison was asked if she had more questions for Rogers, and she replied she’d like to make a comment.

“I never said I was going to burn the whole building down. I did burn the apartment, but I never said that and laughed about it,” she said.

Fullerton moved all charges to Butler County Common Pleas Court, and told Allison she’d have a chance to apply for a public defender again when she returned to the jail.

“These charges are very serious. You could spend a long time in jail if you’re convicted,” he said.

Allison remains in Butler County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bond.