A Nome woman has been indicted by a grand jury on felony charges of arson and assault, alleging she was responsible for starting a September apartment fire.
The blaze at the Umiaq apartment building along East 3rd Avenue and Moore Way sent two people to the hospital and displaced more than 20 others. The flames rendered half of the eight-unit multiplex unusable and kept the Nome Volunteer Fire Department busy for hours before the flames subsided.
In all, ten charges were handed down against 34-year-old Kandie Allen on Nov. 24, after a grand jury returned an indictment of two felony arson charges, as well as eight felony assault charges.
The first-degree arson charge alleges Allen intentionally started a fire the court says “recklessly placed another person in danger of serious physical injury.” The second-degree arson charge further alleges she “knowingly damaged a building by starting a fire or explosion.” The eight assault charges allege she committed assault and caused people to fear for their lives using a dangerous instrument. In all, eight witnesses testified during the grand jury investigation, including apartment residents and officers with the Nome Police Department.
Grand jury hearings are not public, which means information on the arson investigation—including the ultimate cause of the blaze—as well as specifics as to Allen’s actions the night of the fire remain sealed by the court.
The final three assault charges were withdrawn by District Attorney John Earthman. Before Nome Superior Court Judge Tim Dooley, Allen’s public defender Angela Greene submitted a “not guilty” plea to all charges.
In addition to the three withdrawn charges, Allen also faces one misdemeanor assault charge—for allegedly biting a doctor in the emergency room of the Norton Sound Regional Hospital the night of the fire. A police affidavit says an officer arriving at the ER found a doctor “struggling” with Allen, who was attempting to “hit, kick, and bite multiple people.” A doctor who was bit told the officer they wanted to press charges.
The police affidavit reports Allen was intoxicated during the struggle, registering a blood alcohol content of .315 that day.
Allen’s bail was initially set at $2,000 in September after the alleged biting incident in the ER, but was increased to $22,000 at the request of District Attorney Earthman. Allen’s next court appearance for the arson and assault charges is Jan. 30.
