Wayne Allen Huntsman may change not guilty plea in starting King Fire

Wayne Allen Huntsman, the man charged with starting the 2014 King Fire that burned 97,700 acres in El Dorado County, will appear in court on Friday, but the day may hold more than just his pre-trial conference.

Dave Stephenson with the District Attorney's Office said in a press release Wednesday that they are anticipating a change of plea and potential sentencing of the now 37-year-old Huntsman when he appears in the Department 2 court room in Placerville at 1:30 p.m. on April 8, 2016.

On September 13, 2014, a 911 call was received by the Fire Protection Dispatch Center reporting a structure fire near Pollock Pines, Calif. Within five days Wayne Allen Huntsman would be in custody, charged with intentionally setting the fire that took over 27 days to control and burned a total of 97,700 acres.

He has been sitting in the County Jail in South Lake Tahoe since his arrest on a $10,000,000 bail hold. Huntsman has since been transferred to Placerville due to his court date Friday.

"There were many people impacted by the King Fire," said Stevenson. "If you have any information you would like to provide our office, or any claim of potential victim restitution, please contact Miguel Garibay at miguel.garibay@edcgov.us or by phone at (530) 621-6472."