GLOUCESTER - A Gloucester Point woman accused of setting fire to her home in November while her husband slept pleaded guilty Tuesday to arson and first-degree attempted murder.

Karen F. Barnett, 45, entered "Alford" pleas on both charges in Gloucester Circuit Court, which means she maintains her innocence but acknowledges that the evidence against her would have been sufficient to convict her.

Barnett is accused of placing an improvised fire-starter built from a mason jar filled with kerosene near the bed where her husband, Todie, slept, then tip-toeing outside and fleeing in her car. Todie Barnett extinguished the fire and escaped unharmed, and Barnett was picked up by Gloucester Sheriff's deputies the same day.

The attempted-murder charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and the arson charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
 

Barnett is scheduled to be sentenced May 20.