Apartment Fire Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

The Calumet man accused of setting the fatal Hancock apartment building fire is back in court for arraignment.

Ronald Kemppainen pleaded not guilty to 4 counts of homicide as well as 1 count of arson of a dwelling.

He was in Houghton County District Court a week ago for his preliminary exam.

If convicted, the arson charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years.

Each homicide charge would mean life without parole.

A pre-trial conference is set for March 11th, with the trial itself slated for April 5th.

UGN News was in the courtroom in Houghton today.

We’ll have more about what went on for you tonight at 10 and 11.