Nett Lake Man Indicted for Setting Fire to the Bois Forte Reservation Tribal Center

A 20-year-old Nett Lake man was indicted yesterday in federal court for allegedly setting fire to the Bois Forte Reservation Tribal Center last month.

William Lyn Isham was charged with one count of arson. His indictment alleges that on July 20 he willfully and maliciously set fire to and burned the center.

According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit, the Nett Lake and Orr fire departments responded to a fire call at the center shortly after 3 a.m. Upon their arrival, they saw a vehicle parked in front of the building was completely engulfed in flames, and saw intense smoke and a fire spread throughout the building. The fire appeared to have been started at the rear of the building.

The State of Minnesota Fire Marshal ruled that the fire was intentional and determined that separate fires were started, the first in the vehicle and the second at the janitor’s door at the rear of the building.

Two witnesses told authorities that earlier that evening Isham spoke about burning down the center. Isham then disappeared and later returned bragging about setting the fire. On July 28, Isham was recorded making statements about setting the fire.

If convicted, Isham faces a potential maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. All sentences are determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bois Forte Tribal Police Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw.