Murder and arson suspect pleads not guilty

MARQUETTE — A Gwinn man charged with murder and arson in connection with a fatal fire at K.I. Sawyer won’t be back in court again until March.

45–year–old Steven Zintman has pleaded not guilty to felony murder and first–degree arson.

Marquette County Circuit Court held a scheduling conference earlier this week to determine his next court date. It’ll be a pretrial conference on March 20th.

The Forsyth Township Police arrested Zintman in October after a lengthy investigation into the fire. It happened last May at 609 Valkyrie Street at Sawyer.

46–year–old Sally Plume, who lived in that home, died in the blaze.

Zintman is in the Marquette County Jail on $2 million cash bond.

He could face life in prison on both the murder and arson charges if he’s convicted.