King Fire suspect indicted

Wayne Allen Huntsman

The man accused of starting the devastating King Fire near Pollock Pines in September has been indicted on one felony charge.

Wayne Allen Huntsman was arraigned Dec. 15 in El Dorado County Superior Court in Placerville. Huntsman’s attorney filed a motion to recuse the judge. A trial setting conference is scheduled for Jan. 23 with Judge Ken Melikian.

The grand jury handed down the indictment Dec. 3, accusing Huntsman of arson of forestland with five special allegations of arson with aggravating factors. This includes causing great bodily injury because a firefighter was hurt, and an enhancement because of the 12 houses and 68 outbuildings that were destroyed at a loss of $6.5 million.

Huntsman’s bail remains set at $10 million.

The fire took nearly one month to contain. It burned 97,717 acres northeast of Pollock Pines, mostly in the Eldorado National Forest.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report