VAN NUYS - The Los Angeles Fire Department announced today that Kurt K. Billie, charged with setting a rash of fires in North Hollywood during July 2011, has been held over for trial, following a preliminary hearing this morning in Van Nuys Superior Court.

The 34 year-old, former Marine, with previous convictions of setting fire to bars and restaurants in Japan, remains in custody on $2 million bail. He has been held to answer on 21 charges, and due to prior arson convictions, he is eligible for sentencing under California's "Three Strikes" law for this most recent series of fires. If found guilty at trial, Billie may face up to life in prison.

Billie is alleged to have committed a series of fires in the North Hollywood area, with parked cars, motorhomes and garages in the Lankershim Boulevard corridor the target of arson that kept residents fearful and Investigators on around-the-clock surveillance.

"The fact that Billie has been held to answer on all original felony counts is a credit to the work of LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Arson Investigators, as well as the effort of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Arson Unit," according to David Liske, LAFD Senior Arson Investigator.

No firm date has been set for trial.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department