Former Marine charged with setting arson fires

Prosecutors charged a former Marine who previously served jail time for setting fires on Okinawa, Japan, with nearly two dozen felony counts Thursday in connection with two dozen arson fires in North Hollywood in recent weeks that authorities said caused more than $1-million damage.

Kurt K. Billie, 34, was charged by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office with 20 counts of felony arson and one count of felony aggravated arson. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum term of life in state prison.

Billie was booked on suspicion of arson after undercover officers saw him setting fire to a small motor home about 4 a.m. Tuesday in the 7500 block of Troost Avenue. According to law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation, Billie is suspected of setting at least 19 fires in that area since mid-July, including a dozen fires over one three-day period.

Most of the fires were ignited in vehicles parked in carports. But in some cases, the flames spread to nearby structures. One of the fires sent two people to the hospital for smoke inhalation.