BEDFORD WOMAN ADMITS FRAUD, ARSON OF HOME

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 13, 1992                   TAG: 9202130272
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BEDFORD                                LENGTH: Short
BEDFORD WOMAN ADMITS FRAUD, ARSON OF HOME
A Bedford County woman pleaded guilty to fraud and arson Wednesday for faking robberies at her trailer home and setting fire to it.
Lyle Rose Atkins, 28, could get life plus 40 years in prison when she is sentenced after a background report, said Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Philip Baker.
Atkins' husband, Anthony, will face similar charges when he appears in Bedford County Circuit Court March 10.
Anthony Atkins also faces unrelated charges of sexual abuse and forcible sodomy in connection with two young boys.
The Atkinses' trouble apparently began when the couple fell behind on their bills last year.
Prosecutors allege that the couple leased a television and two VCRs from Roanoke rental agencies and then reported the equipment stolen when they could not make the payments.
They're also accused of setting fire to their home in the Hardy Road Trailer Park last July after they were unable to pay the power bills and electricity was cut off.
No one was injured in the fire.
Lyle Rose Atkins had to lift the youngest of her three children out a back window to escape, prosecutors said.
She also faces a felony child neglect charge that will be heard later.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB