Ex-girlfriend named as accused senior apartment arsonist

After allegedly placing a burning sheet of paper under the front door of her ex-boyfriend's home in a Port Arthur senior apartment complex, a 61-year-old woman was indicted for arson Wednesday, Sept. 22. 

Port Arthur resident Maxine Angelo Castle was arrested Aug. 23 for allegedly setting a fire with the intent to destroy or damage a habitation, namely her ex-boyfriend’s apartment. According to a probable cause affidavit penned by Port Arthur Police Department (PAPD) Officer Antonio Mitchell, video surveillance at the complex showed Castle set a piece of notebook paper ablaze before placing it under her ex-boyfriend's front door.

Additionally, someone at the scene of the crime told police they witnessed Castle leaving her ex’s frontdoor “a short time” before the victim noticed the fire, according to Officer Mitchell. 

As of Sept. 23, Castle was listed on the Jefferson County inmate roster with a $35,000 bond.