Logan County Woman Sentenced To Federal Prison Time For Arson

Kimberly Kinder participated in ’09 blaze set at Boone Co. rental duplex

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that a Logan County woman was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison for her role in an arson conspiracy.  Kimberly Dawn Kinder, 46, of Chapmanville, Logan County, W.Va., previously pleaded guilty in June 2012.  In September 2009, Kinder conspired with co-defendant Michael L. White, and her now deceased husband, to burn down a residential rental unit located in Van, Boone County, W.Va.  Kinder was due to receive approximately $4,000 in insurance proceeds for her role in the scheme.  Late in the evening on October 15, 2009, the Kinders arrived at the Van Duplex.  After entering through one of the rental units, Mr. Kinder poured gasoline on a pile of clothes in the living area of one of the units.  Mr. Kinder set fire to the pile of clothes and Mrs. Kinder drove the getaway vehicle.

A federal jury convicted Michael L. White, 58, of Chapmanville, last month in connection with the arson that he arranged in an effort to collect more than $80,000 in insurance claims linked to the property. White was found guilty on all three counts charged against him: conspiracy to commit arson, arson and accessory after the fact.  Evidence at White’s trial revealed that he conspired with the Kinders to set fire to the Van rental unit.

The Van Volunteer Fire Department responded to the incident and extinguished the fire, but the property suffered extensive damage.  On October 19, 2009, White filed an insurance claim with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (“Nationwide”) as a result of the damage. Nationwide in turn paid White $80,716.51.  White later paid the Kinders approximately $2,000 in small increments of the insurance claim as payment for their roles in the scheme. 

White faces up to five years in prison on Count One (conspiracy); five to 20 years on Count Two (arson); and up to two and a half years on Count Three (accessory after the fact) when he is sentenced in August by United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston.

The investigation was conducted by the West Virginia State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Ryan handled the prosecution.