PARIS — A man accused of burning down a boarding house in downtown Norway pleaded not guilty to arson Tuesday in Oxford County Superior Court.

Todd M. Fickett, 21, was charged with setting fire to the multi-story building at 467 Main St. on May 9. About a dozen tenants lost their home and possessions, but no one was injured. A tenant who was awake alerted the others to evacuate the building.

Fickett’s bail remains at $25,000 cash or $100,000 property. In defense of keeping Fickett’s bail amount in place, Assistant District Attorney Joseph O’Connor said the charge was among the most serious of arson charges, which can encompass burning an abandoned shack or an occupied building.

Fickett’s defense attorney, Maurice Porter, said Fickett didn’t intentionally start the fire. Fickett told police he’d set a fire in a trash can to create smoke, but never intended to burn down the building.

According to court documents, Fickett was admitted to Riverview Psychiatric Center in Augusta for observation and treatment before his indictment. He is now at Androscoggin County Jail awaiting trial. According to court documents his attorney has requested a quick trial.

The police affidavit said Fickett admitted setting the fire. He told officer Daniel Young, an investigator with the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office, that he lit several books of matches in a trash can to create smoke. Fickett said he fell asleep in a recliner and when he woke up, the can had fallen over and the fire had spread across the floor, according to the affidavit.

He said he grabbed his jacket and keys and jumped out through a window. However, two witnesses who saw him running from the building said he had a backpack as well.

Witnesses told Young that Fickett had an argument with a boarding house resident, about Fickett stealing food from him and that he’d demanded $20 for the food. Fickett allegedly told him “I’m going to kill you” when confronted about the food before leaving, according to the affidavit.

treaves@sunjournal.com

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