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Last updated on Friday, May 2, 2014
(EVANSVILLE) - The Evansville woman charged with intentionally setting the fire at the Sugar Mill Creek apartments is not getting out of jail anytime soon.
47-year-old Michelle Hershberger is charged with a single count of arson. She has been in jail for nearly 3 weeks.
Michelle Hershberger was supposed to be in court today, but records show she was not transported from the jail because of a medical condition.
Officials say Hershberger's parents appeared on her behalf.
Her parents requested that their daughter be appointed a public defender. Hershberger previously told the court that her family was trying to get a private attorney.
The judge says Hershberger will be appointed a public defender, but one has not been selected just yet.
Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nick Hermann says although Hershberger is mentally ill, she will have to remain in jail throughout her case.
Several law enforcement agencies tell 14 News that the jail is not a facility that is equipped to care for her or any mentally ill inmate.
"It's not a good place for them, it doesn't help their illness, doesn't help their disease," Hermann says.
"And it's also bad for the jails, they're high in medical costs. At the same time, here we're presented with a case with somebody that caused a lot of damage and endangered a lot of lives and obviously is a threat to society. So what do you do? Is it a good place? No, in fact, it's probably a horrible place, but it's our option at this point," Hermann continued.
Hershberger will be back in court on June 12.
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