North Dakota Hotel Owners Sue Convicted Arsonist

The owners of the former Lone Steer hotel in Steele are suing the man convicted of setting the south-central North Dakota business on fire.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that the lawsuit seeking $500,000 also implicates the company Allen Thomas worked for, identified in the complaint as “XYZ Corporation.”

A jury convicted Thomas in August of one count of arson and 18 counts of endangering by fire.

Thomas is slated to be sentenced on Nov. 7. He faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the 19 felony charges.

The hotel was destroyed by fire in August 2012. Several people had to jump from second-story windows to escape the blaze. No one was injured.

Authorities said Thomas used a cigarette lighter to ignite a mattress because he was upset that the hotel owners had helped his girlfriend after the two had argued.

Law enforcement officials said Thomas was part of a road crew staying at the Lone Steer.

The hotel owners’ lawsuit said Thomas’ supervisor told the hotel owners he would fire Thomas and remove him from the hotel but neither happened.