SIDNEY -- On Tuesday, November 12, Tessa J. Kraus entered a guilty plea on two charges in Cheyenne County District Court in connection with a house fire in Sidney in April of this year. 

She appeared before Cheyenne County District Court Judge Derek Weimer via Zoom call, represented in person by Public Defense Attorney Don Miller.  

She pleaded guilty to charges of Third Degree Arson, and a single count of Theft by Receiving Stolen Property. Third Degree Arson has a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment; Theft By Receiving carries a maximum of one year imprisonment. 

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2025. She is currently at "The Bridge" in Hastings.  

 The Sidney Police Department, Sidney Fire Department and the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a house fire at 1125 6th Ave. at about midnight Saturday, April 13, 2024. The house was not occupied and no injuries were reported. The Sidney Fire Department and the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's office investigated the fire. Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub said in court today the house was valued at $68,000. 

According to the arrest affidavit, Kraus and Alton Burnett were living in the house at the time. 

At about 12:40 a.m. April 14, 2024, Sidney Police Officer Lovato was contacted by Zackary Radkey who said he is friends with Burnett. Burnett was living in Omaha at the time, according to the arrest affidavit. The affidavit says Burnett told Radkey Burnett had in the past awakened to the house covered in gasoline. The arrest affidavit also says Burnett confided in Radkey of Kraus keeping Molotov cocktails in her backpack.  

An arrest affidavit was filed April 16 against Kraus on charges of Second Degree Arson (Class III Felony), Terroristic Threats (Class IIIA Felony), Possession of a Destructive Device (Class IV Felony) and Obstructing a Peace Officer (Class I Misdemeanor). She was arrested by Greeley (Colorado) Police on April 16, and moved to the Morgan County, Colo. Detention Center.