USS Miami Fire Suspect's Case Still Up in the Air

Editor's note: Welcome to "Across the River," which offers stories and news from Kittery, Maine. Each Thursday, Portsmouth Patch will present a story about this community along with a short list of upcoming events and happenings around town. All Portsmouth Patch stories about Kittery, Maine will also be posted in our new "Across the River" topic page that can be accessed by clicking on the News section of the tool bar any time.

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As federal prosecutors and the defense attorney representing a Portsmouth man charged with setting fire to the USS Miami continue to deliberate to see if they can resolve the case, it remains open.

According to the U.S. District Court Clerk's office in Portland, Maine, Casey James Fury, 24, who is facing two felony charges of arson, has not been indicted yet by a grand jury and his case is still open. There have also not been any motions filed regarding the evidence in the case or any hearings scheduled following the probable cause hearing on Aug. 15 when Fury was denied bail.

Public Defender David Beneman, who is representing Fury, said in August he wanted to see if the case against Fury could be resolved without an indictment.

Fury continues to be held at the Cumberland County Jail to await trial on two Class A felony arson charges that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, if convicted. Fury waived his probable cause hearing before the detention hearing took place.

Fury is charged with two counts of "willfully and maliciously setting fire to" the USS Miami and building materials and supplies located in and around the nuclear submarine following his arrest on July 23. The charges stem from the May 23 fire aboard the submarine and a subsequent fire on June 16 in the dry dock where the USS Miami rests.

Seven people were injured in the May 23 fire, which caused $400 million in damage to the submarine and took dozens of Seacoast area firefighters more than 10 hours to get under control.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy announced earlier this month that General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $94 million contract to do the initial design work to repair the USS Miami. Navy officials have estimated it will cost $450 million to return the nuclear submarine to the fleet.

Meetings:

Kittery Planning Board, Thursday, Sept. 27, 6 p.m., Town Hall.

Kittery School Committee, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall

Kittery Comprehensive Plan Update Committee, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m., Town Hall

Kittery Port Authority, Thursday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m., Town Hall

Kittery Town Hall closed on Friday, Sept. 28.

Events:

Kittery candidates night: According to Seacoast Online, the Portsmouth Herald will host a Kittery candidates night on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at Town Hall at 7 p.m. for State Senate and State House.

KTP bicycle rides: Every Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m., Kittery Trading Post guides will lead bicyclists on a coastal ride in town and newcomers are welcome.

Want to contribute to "Across the River?" Kittery, Maine residents are free to contribute photos, news and any other items of interest they want to share directly to the site or they can sign up as bloggers by e-mailing robert.cook@portsmouth-nh.patch.com.

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