ACCOMAC, Va.- A woman accused of participating in an Eastern Shore of Virginia arson spree was sentenced Thursday to a total of 10 and a half years in prison on charges stemming from two of the fires.
Tonya Bundick, 41, appeared in an Accomack County courtroom where a judge gave her seven years for arson and another seven years for conspiracy to commit arson, each sentence to be served concurrently, for a January conviction in which she entered an Alford plea stemming from an April 2013 fire in Melfa.
Bundick was also given three and a half years and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for a July conviction, when a jury found her guilty of arson in the March 2013 fire in Accomack County. She was additionally ordered to pay a $30,000 conditional restitution to the property owner. Bundick's attorney Allan Zaleski admits, he and his client were hoping for a lighter sentence.
"It is what it is, but she is going to appeal it and going to have new council," said Zaleski.
Both prison terms will be served consecutively. Following her release, Bundick will be placed on three years supervised probation.
Zaleski will file the appeals for Bundick but then his commitment to her is over. Bundick filed a request for new council and Zaleski filed to withdraw from the case. The judge accepted their request after denying Bundick a similar request back in late August. Zaleski told WBOC whoever takes over as Bundick's council will have their work cut out for them against Commonwealth's Attorney, Gary Agar.
"He's been implacable, meaning that since the start of this, he's been wanting whoever was involved in this to please guilty to all of the counts. Regardless of how many there were. I asked him if she pleads guilty to 50, would that satisfy you? No, has to be 62. He's been implacable so whoever got it has a job ahead of them," Zaleski said.
Bundick faces more than 60 additional arson counts. A judge ruled in April that she can have separate trials on each charge.
Co-defendant Charles R. Smith has pleaded guilty to 67 arson counts and a conspiracy charge. He is awaiting sentencing which the judge told Agar and Smith's attorney Thursday in court, he would like to see the sentencing placed on the court's docket within the next two months.
