By Joline Gutierrez Krueger
Tribune Reporter

The Youth in Transition program director accused of seeking to have a board member killed now faces charges of setting fire to her own program's office and attempting to burn down a nearby drug rehabilitation center.

A Bernalillo County grand jury indicted Donna Rowe, 47, late Friday on criminal solicitation to commit first-degree murder as well as arson, attempted arson and conspiracy to commit arson.

Rowe's bail was continued at $1 million. She has remained in City-County Jail since her arrest March 14 on a charge involving a plot to kill a YIT volunteer and board member identified by her attorney as Jerry Pearce.

The indictment also accuses Rowe of starting the Thanksgiving Day blaze that destroyed the YIT office at 310 Washington St. S.E.

The latter two arson-related charges do not specify the targeted buildings, but Deputy District Attorney Julie Altwies said the attempted arson count refers to the CASAA drug-rehabilitation program center adjacent to the former office of the program for homeless youth.

The attempted arson also occurred Thanksgiving Day, the indictment states.

The conspiracy charge alleges that Rowe agreed sometime that month to commit the arson, the indictment states.

If convicted on all charges, Rowe could face 15 years in prison.

Rowe's attorney, William Parnall, said he is shocked and his client is disappointed by the additional charges.

"This is a very strange case with strange allegations," Parnall said in a prepared statement. "I will have to conduct an extensive investigation into these allegations and prepare a defense for trial to make it clear that Donna Rowe is a caring person who has given of herself 100 percent to help those less fortunate than her."

Parnall's investigation is made more complicated because all law enforcement documents related to the case - including the criminal complaint and the arrest warrant affidavit - remain sealed under court order.

Rowe is scheduled to be arraigned in state District Court sometime next week. At that hearing, Parnall said he will seek to have documents unsealed and Rowe's bail reduced.

Parnall described the man his client is accused of wanting to have killed as her close friend.

"They remain friends, and I am just hoping that he can stand up and tell the court that he is not afraid of her in any way," he said.

Pearce could not be reached for comment.

Parnall also said he could not imagine why Rowe would seek to destroy the youth program she struggled so hard to keep going, nor would she have any reason to harm the neighboring drug facility.

"I can't see her wanting to harm anyone or anything," he said.

The board of the homeless youth assistance organization is supporting Rowe and suggested that the charges are the "result of ongoing conflicts with the Albuquerque Police Department, the City of Albuquerque and individuals who oppose the work of Mrs. Rowe with homeless youth."

Before the fire shut its doors, Youth in Transition was much maligned by surrounding businesses, which said the office attracted crime, drug dealing and prostitution.

The Youth in Transition program offered homeless teens access to computer services, hygienic goods, counseling and referrals and job search assistance.

On Thanksgiving Day the office was burned in what fire authorities said was clearly an arson. After a short and controversial stint in a Northeast Heights park, the program relocated to 300 Charleston St. S.E. It has shut down indefinitely since Rowe's arrest.

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