AUGUSTA — The man who allegedly threatened to burn a two-story Randolph apartment building owned by a former top aide to Gov. Paul LePage is not facing arson charges.

Andrew James St. Amand, 34, was accused of assaulting his girlfriend April 9 at their apartment building at 23 Windsor St., Randolph. The building burned later that day.

Witnesses told fire investigators St. Amand had threatened to burn the building down.

A court affidavit by State Fire Marshal’s Office investigator Edward H. Hastings IV said St. Amand and his girlfriend had been arguing all day April 9. At one point, the affidavit states, St. Amand was observed at the scene, yelling at his girlfriend, “I’ll have this place burned before you get back.”

St. Amand was indicted Friday on charges of domestic-violence assault and violating conditions of release, but not arson.

“We actually brought quite a few witnesses to tell us everything they knew about the fire, and we made a strong effort to determine if the evidence was there to support an arson charge; but one was not brought,” Kennebec County District Attorney Evert Fowle said. “Ultimately, it was determined there was insufficient evidence for the grand jury to return an indictment for arson.”

Investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal determined the April 9 fire at 23 Windsor St., Randolph, was arson.

A secondary fire, believed to have ignited by embers, destroyed the building the next day.

The building was owned by Dan Demeritt, of Sidney, who served as the governor’s spokesman at the time of the fire. He resigned a week later, after the Kennebec Journal reported a local bank was foreclosing on the building that burned along with four others Demeritt owned throughout the area.

Demeritt said he later sold the property.

The Randolph building was part of a three-address parcel for which Demeritt was facing a $251,192 bank judgment for allegedly failing to pay principal, interest, late charges, tax and insurance advances, and attorney fees.

The properties are valued for tax purposes at $378,400.

St. Amand stands charged with a felony count of domestic-violence assault in connection with the alleged assault on his girlfriend.

Prosecutors also added a felony count of violation of condition of release, for allegedly having contact with the victim Sept. 29 in Augusta. St. Amand has been held at Kennebec County jail since then.

Hastings said St. Amand escaped the fire by climbing out a second-floor window and down a tree.

An indictment is not a determination of guilt or innocence, but an indication sufficient evidence is present to proceed with formal charges and a trial.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

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