A 26-year-old suspected methamphetamine user is facing charges she burned down a 3,500-year-old cypress tree in Central Florida, reportedly telling police she needed more light to see the drugs she was doing, the Orlando Sentinel tells us.

Sara Barnes is accused of malicious land burning and possession of meth for the predawn fire Jan. 16 at Big Tree Park that destroyed "The Senator," reportedly the fifth-oldest cypress in the world. Authorities say that while smoking meth with a friend inside the 118-foot-tall tree, Barnes told them she started a fire so she could see the drugs better.

Police were tipped the day after the fire. Investigators Tuesday confiscated Barnes' cellphone, laptop computer, methamphetamine, a glass pipe and other drug paraphernalia from her apartment near Winter Park.

State agriculture agents said Barnes took pictures of the fire and downloaded them to her phone and computer, the Sentinel writes. Witnesses told them she showed off the images, saying, "I can't believe I burned down a tree older than Jesus."

Barnes, who describes herself on Facebook as a model, posted bond today. A court date is pending.

A forestry agent initially suspected arson, but investigators later said they had ruled that out.

BLOG: Arson ruled out in burning of 3,500-year-old Fla. cypress

Seminole County plans to install a $30,000 fence to prevent someone from stealing the charred remains of The Senator or damaging nearby Lady Liberty, a cypress estimated to be 2,000 years old. See photos of The Senator in greener times.

"Breaking bad," indeed.