Woman accused of burning books at Tacoma library found incompetent to stand trial

A woman accused of setting books on fire at the Tacoma library’s main branch two years ago has been found incompetent to stand trial for the second time.

Pierce County Superior Court Judge Michael Schwartz made the finding Wednesday and dismissed the charge of first-degree arson against Sharon Agnes Sailly.

Sailly, 62, allegedly walked into the downtown library Oct. 18, 2014, and used lighter fluid to burn several books. Library staff members put out the flames before firefighters arrived.

The arson charge was dismissed a year ago after a judge decided Sailly’s mental illness made her unfit to stand trial. The prosecutor’s office refiled the case, and in August, Schwartz found Sailly competent, following a report from Western State Hospital that indicated as much.

Sailly’s attorney, Edward DeCosta, doubted that finding, and an independent expert who evaluated Sailly agreed with him.

The expert told the court that the symptoms of Sailly’s mental illness would keep her from being able to help her attorney or to fully understand the charge against her.

In light of Schwartz’s incompetency ruling, the state Department of Social and Health Services might file to have her civilly committed to Western State.

This story was originally published October 3, 2016 at 4:42 PM with the headline "Woman accused of burning books at Tacoma library found incompetent to stand trial."