Paul Bates, Arson, Alaska 2022

Anchorage Man Charged with Arson after Intentionally Lighting Apartment on Fire

A federal grand jury in Alaska has returned an indictment charging an Anchorage man with intentionally lighting an apartment on fire. Paul Bates, 24, is accused of starting a fire in an apartment building located on East 12th Avenue in Anchorage on Oct. 30, 2022.

According to court documents, Bates had just engaged in a dispute with a neighbor over the neighbor’s refusal to give Bates a cigarette. After the dispute, the defendant went into his unit, lit three fires and left the scene. The fire spread to multiple units after a few minutes, and residents began evacuating the building, which included a woman with a child on her back and a woman in a wheelchair.

Bates was arrested the same day as the fire. He is charged with one count of arson, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §844(i). If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division, with assistance from the Anchorage Police Department and Anchorage Fire Department, is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Vandergaw is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Bates will make his initial court appearance on a later date.

This is a developing story, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available. The exact date of Bates’ court appearance has not been released.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ak/pr/anchorage-man-charged-arson-lighting-apartment-fire