Sullivan Man Indicted for Fire at Birdsacre

A Sullivan man has been indicted on charges stemming from a fire that damaged the homestead at the Birdsacre Sanctuary in Ellsworth.

The BDN reports Christopher Kidder, age 32, was indicted by a Hancock County grand jury last week on two counts of aggravated criminal mischief, one charge of arson, and individual counts of burglary, aggravated assault, reckless conduct, and assault.

It was in March of 2014 when fire significantly damaged the Cordelia Stanwood homestead. The two-story residence is the former home of the person for whom the Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Birdsacre, is named.

Kidder, who has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2001, was arrested in April after he contacted the State Fire Marshal's office to turn himself in. His most recent conviction resulted in a sentence of three years in jail, starting in 2007, after he admitted to stealing a car and leading police on a chase through Ellsworth.