Santa Cruz native charged with arson in connection with King wildfire

UPDATE: On Thursday night, more than 73,000 acres continue to burn just east of Sacramento. We’re hearing from the family of a Santa Cruz native, accused of intentionally starting this devastating wildfire. The King Fire, burning more than 200 miles away in El Dorado County, has driven close to 3,000 people from their homes.

On Thursday, NewsChannel 5 spoke with the suspect’s sister who’s defending her brother 37-year-old Wayne Allen Hunstman who is being charged with felony arson. Investigators said he intentionally started a forest fire near Pollock Pines. His sister said her brother is an avid outdoorsman with respect for nature.

“I don’t believe he’s guilty of it and I’m in complete shock,” said sister Tami Criswell, who lives in Salinas.

Criswell didn’t want to show her face on camera, but said her brother, also known as Chris, is innocent. However, Cal Fire crews said Huntsman is in El Dorado County jail for a fire investigators believe he intentionally set on Saturday near Pollock Pines. Criswell said her brother has too much respect for the forest to be responsible for such turmoil.

“He’s worked with his stepdad doing tree work most of his life. We’ve always been out in the wilderness. We went camping regularly with our grandparents,” Criswell said.

According to the complaint filed by prosecutors, huntsman has previous felony convictions for auto theft and assault in Santa Cruz County. Criswell said he seemed to be doing well, living in Pollock Pines with his girlfriend, holding down a job and keeping in touch with family.

“Even if we would have a bonfire like at the beach or something he’d be the one watching, making sure everything was okay.”

Huntsman’s grandmother who lives in Aptos wasn’t home Thursday night. But her friends said he used to come around her retirement community often, sometimes crashing at her apartment without much approval from neighbors. One woman we spoke with said he always helped his grandmother and seemed like a decent guy.

“Disbelief, no. Sounds so far from the norm,” said neighbor Sally West.

Criswell said she agrees and is practically speechless.

“Not to jump to conclusions because nobody knows, nobody’s heard his side of the story,” Criswell said.

Right now prosecutors aren’t saying what led them to arrest huntsman or how they believe he started the fire. Huntsman’s bail is set at $10 million dollars.

PREVIOUS STORY: A 37-year-old man is being charged with felony arson in connection with the devastating King wildfire, which has driven close to 3,000 people from their homes.

El Dorado County authorities announced the arrest of Wayne Allen Huntsman Thursday.

According to the criminal complaint, Huntsman “willfully and maliciously set fire to and cause to be burbed, forest land located in and around Pollock Pines, California.”

The King fire, as it’s known, is currently an estimated 111 square-miles and has been fueled by gusty winds, along with timber and grass that is bone dry because of the state’s ongoing drought.

According to Cal Fire, the King fire has destroyed nearly 71,000 acres and cost the state more than $10 million. Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in El Dorado County and has secured federal funding to help with the cost of fighting the fire.

Click here to see the criminal complaint.

The fire more than doubled in size between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. It is only 5 percent contained.

According to the complaint filed by El Dorado County prosecutors, Huntsman has previous felony convictions out of Santa Cruz County for auto theft and assault in 1997.

Huntsman’s sister, Tami Criswell, lives in Salinas. She told The Associated Press Thursday that she strongly doubts he’s responsible for starting the blaze.

Criswell said her brother loves the forest and always has been very cautious with campfires. She says her brother works odd jobs in construction and security. She also says that if he was involved in the fire, it wasn’t intentional.