Man Accused Of Setting King Fire Makes First Court Appearance On Arson Charges
PLACERVILLE (CBS13) — Wayne Allen Huntsman walked into court with his head down. He eventually looked up long enough for Lorraine Barber, a Pollock Pines homeowner, to get a good look at the man law enforcement believes started the King Fire.
"I came today because I'm so furious and I wanted to see what this monster would look like and how someone could do this," said Barber.
Barber bought her retirement home near where the fire started just four months ago. She was enjoying her golden years, before the sky glowed red on Sunday.
"I came home Sunday from a very nice trip to Hawaii and was being evacuated three minutes after I got home."
Barber is staying with family in Orangevale but resident John Armstrong is staying in town. Armstrong said he knows Huntsman, who goes by the name "Chris." Armstrong said he saw huntsman shortly after the fire broke out on Saturday.
"He came up to me and told me he was woken up by the fire and I'm like, how did you get woken up by a fire? Wouldn't you smell smoke first?" said Armstrong. "His clothes were all burnt just on one side."
The public defender said Huntsman plans to plead not guilty to arson charges. Prosecutors still haven't revealed the evidence against him, but if homes are destroyed, Huntsman faces more charges.
"There are enhancements when there are more than five inhabited structures," said El Dorado District Attorney Vern Pierson. "At this point we have not definitively confirmed that that happened. We may be amending the complaint in the very near future."
Barber's home is still standing, but no longer in its best condition.
"But the smoke was so thick in our house," Barber said. "Everything's ruined. We're basically starting all over. We can't stay at the home anymore."
Pierson said the case building against Huntsman is evolving and he could not say what possible sentence he could receive if convicted of the King Fire arson. Huntsman's arraignment continues Oct. 28.
