Former Napa Valley Student Arrested, Accused Of Arson At Campus, Townhouse

NAPA COUNTY, CA – A 23-year-old former student of Napa Valley College was arrested Wednesday evening in connection with two suspected arson fires in 2015 at the school and at townhomes on Valley Oak Drive in Napa, police said.

Kasey Cardell Holt, of Hercules, was arrested without incident by the Napa Police Department at 8:30 p.m. on the 400 block of El Sobrante, and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility with bail set at $5 million, police said.

The first suspected arson incident was June 22, 2015, when a suspicious fire was started at the Napa Valley College gymnasium and the basketball coach's office, police said.

"Based on evidence left at the scene, it was clear that the fire had been intentionally set," the Napa PD said, adding that the case was jointly investigated by Napa detectives and the Napa Valley College Police.

Less than a week later, on June 28, 2015, at about 1 a.m., Napa police and fire departments were dispatched to a fire at a townhome on the 200 block of Valley Oak in Napa, where multiple "improvised incendiary devices" were located, the agency said.

Investigators suspected the residence was targeted and related to the college fire as it belonged to an employee of Napa Valley College, who was closely associated with the school's athletic department, police said.

Other adjoining townhomes were damaged in the blaze, and witnesses reported seeing a subject running from the scene, police said.

A 15-month investigation followed, with the assistance of forensic investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, leading to the arrest of Holt on suspicion of attempted murder, arson of an inhabited structure, possession of destructive device with intent to injure, residential burglary and arson of a structure, police said.

Anyone with information on the cases can contact Detective Andy Hess, 707-257-9507 or ahess@cityofnapa.org.

• Also see: Discarded Cigarette Possible Cause Of Fire That Demolished 4 Homes, Damaged 10 Others, Injured 2, Killed Cat

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