A Scranton woman faces a jury trial next month on five felony charges after allegedly starting a house on fire intentionally to claim insurance money. According to Greene County District Court records, a house fire broke out in the 700 block of Sand Street in Churdan on Oct. 2, 2023, which 27-year-old Conner Laine Groves occupied. Witnesses confessed to assisting Groves move items out of her house a few days before the fire, and she talked to a friend, convincing him to start the fire. The house was deemed a total loss, and the fire caused damage to neighboring structures valued at over $10,000. Groves claimed insurance on the house, including several items later discovered at her new residence. Groves was also allegedly in possession of several bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. She is currently facing three class C felonies of fraudulent sales practices over $10,000, first-degree criminal mischief, and second-degree arson; two class D felonies of conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony, and insurance fraud presenting false information; as well as possession of controlled substance, marijuana first offense, a serious misdemeanor. A jury trial has been scheduled for March 3, at the Greene County Courthouse. Groves can face a maximum sentence of over 40 years in prison and $57,000 in fines if convicted of all charges.
