Man Accused Of Deliberately Starting King Fire Indicted

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A man previously charged with deliberately starting a huge Northern California wildfire that burned a dozen homes has now been indicted by a grand jury.

El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson announced Monday that 37-year-old Wayne Allen Huntsman was indicted earlier this month on one count of arson of forest land, with multiple aggravating factors.

His attorney, Bob Banning, did not return telephone and email messages.

Huntsman pleaded not guilty as he was arraigned on the indictment, with his bail remaining at $10 million until his next court appearance Jan. 23. He previously faced a similar charge.

The indictment charges that he "willfully, unlawfully, and maliciously" set what developed into the King Fire, which burned more than 150 square miles east of Sacramento and forced thousands of evacuations.

Click here to read the full indictment.

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