The Fairbanks District Attorney’s Office on Friday charged 17-year-old Jamison Gallion for his role as the arsonist in seven fires occurring in the Two Rivers-Pleasant Valley area this year.
Gallion now faces multiple counts of arson, burglary, and criminal mischief, after making admissions to law enforcement about his conduct.
Gallion is charged with Arson in the Second Degree, Burglary in the Second Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the First Degree in each of three fires: the May 16, 2021 fire at the Pleasant Valley Thrift Store, the June 19, 2021 fire at the Pleasant Valley Community Center, and the August 18, 2021 fire at Wagons’ North. He also faces charges of Arson in the First Degree and Criminal Mischief in the First Degree for the fire that burned a residence on July 3, 2021, as well as charges of Arson in the Second Degree and Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree for the Community Center fire on July 24, 2021.
Gallion further faces charges of Arson in the Second Degree, Burglary in the Second Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree for the August 19, 2021 fire at the structure on 3838 Chena Hot Springs Road. For the August 23, 2021 fire that burned the Two Rivers Lodge, Gallion is charged with Arson in the First Degree and Criminal Mischief in the First Degree.
Although a juvenile, Gallion is being charged as an adult, which is permitted by Alaska law when 16 or 17 year olds are charged with certain offenses, including Arson in the First Degree.
The charges in the charging document are only allegations and are not evidence of guilt. Gallion is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Gallion was arraigned today in Fairbanks District Court. Bail was set at $1 million cash performance. He is currently being held at Fairbanks Youth Facility. The next court date is a preliminary hearing on Sept. 2, at 3:15 p.m. in courtroom 102 at the Rabinowitz Courthouse in Fairbanks.
