Man admits to setting Kingston blaze that displaced 10 people

Aug. 16--WILKES-BARRE -- A Kingston man pleaded guilty Monday to setting a blaze that displaced 10 residents.

Michael Allen Killian, 26, whose last known address is the same West Union Street residence he admitted to setting fire to on Feb. 22, allegedly told investigators he was smoking cigarettes in the basement next to a bottle of lighter fluid and suggested that was how the fire started.

Killian's girlfriend told investigators he was with her in the basement of 89 W. Union St. before the fire started, but said she couldn't see what he was doing, according to a criminal complaint. When they saw smoke upstairs, the pair ran outside and Killian told her to call 911.

"I am getting the f--- out of here," he allegedly told her before taking off on foot.

She said she and Killian are the only two residents with access to the basement.

A state police fire marshal determined the fire was set in the two-story structure's basement and then spread to the rest of the residence. A canine trained in the detection of ignitable liquids gave a positive alert at the fire's point of origin there, the complaint says.

At his arraignment, Killian denied responsibility for the blaze.

"I didn't start any fire," he told a judge on Feb. 26.

When the judge asked him whether he used drugs, Killian said, "I sure do. I use heroin, marijuana and alcohol."

Asked to provide an address, Killian said, "I don't have one anymore since the fire. I lived there, too."

Judge Tina Polachek Gartley accepted Killian's plea on one felony count each of arson and reckless burning. A charge of arson with intent to collect insurance was dropped, along with other counts of arson and criminal mischief.

Court records show Killian pleaded guilty in 2013 to aggravated assault and disorderly conduct in Schuylkill County and was sentenced to five to 23 months in prison followed by one year probation.

Gartley ordered Killian to pay $4,455 in restitution to property owner Richard Amy. Killian's sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 7.

Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL

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