Ellsworth trial postponed for boy accused of arson

ELLSWORTH – The juvenile trial of an Otis boy accused of setting a classmate on fire last October has been postponed until next month, according to the boy’s attorney.

Bangor attorney Chris Largay, who is defending Lucas White, 15, on multiple felony charges, said Wednesday that he asked for the trial to be postponed because of personal and professional scheduling conflicts.

Judge Bernard Staples agreed to set another date for the trial, which had been scheduled to begin today in Ellsworth District Court, Largay said.

“It’s been continued to February 20,” the defense attorney said.

White is facing charges of arson, elevated aggravated assault and aggravated assault in connection with the Oct. 30 incident, which occurred during Ellsworth High School’s annual Spook Day festivities.

The youth is accused of using a cigarette lighter to set fire to a military sniper costume worn by Donald Awalt, 14, of Ellsworth.

The two boys were in the high school gym watching a costume contest with the rest of the student body when Awalt was consumed in a “ball of flame” and jumped from the bleachers, according to witnesses. The fire was extinguished as Awalt rolled around on the gym floor and other students beat out the flames with parts of their costumes, witnesses have said.

Awalt, who is still recovering from his injuries, suffered serious burns to his back and legs and spent weeks after the incident in a Boston hospital.

White since has been expelled from Ellsworth High School and is being schooled at home by his parents, according to Largay.