ALFRED — A Springvale woman who, along with her son, was charged by police in March with setting an apartment fire in January has also been indicted on a second arson charge.

A York County Grand Jury returned indictments charging arson against Janice Fortier, 46, and her son, Raymond R. Fortier, 23, both of Springvale, in connection with a fire at an apartment building at 20 Mill St. on Jan. 5.

But the grand jury also returned an arson indictment against Janice Fortier in connection with a fire that damaged Mill Street Market, almost directly across the street from the apartment building, back in August.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt but a finding that enough evidence exists to move forward with prosecution.

The market and apartments on the second floor of the building, constructed in 1925, were unoccupied and had been vacant for several months when fire erupted there Aug. 20. Investigators believe the fire started in an area of an old couch that sat outside on the stoop area near the store’s entryway.

The 20 Mill St. fire in January displaced 14 residents and forced the evacuation of another apartment building nearby.

Raymond R. Fortier was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Panama City, Fla., March 5 and extradited to Maine. Janice Fortier was arrested at her home March 10.

Both mother and son lived at 22 Mill St., directly adjacent to the apartment building that burned. Police allege that Raymond Fortier left for Florida within days of the fire.

Police and fire officials said the early morning fire sent 14 people fleeing into the street with only the clothes on their back. None of the tenants had rental insurance, although the building, owned by George Sleeper, was insured.

Police allege that the Fortiers started the fire outside, at the rear of the structure, while the tenants slept inside.

Occupants of the nearby Haven Cove condominiums had to be evacuated when the fire began threatening that structure and the exterior sliding door on that building was damaged by the fire. The occupants of 22 Mill St., where Raymond and Janice Fortier lived, were also evacuated.

Arson is a Class A felony. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 30 years in prison.

Janice Fortier was freed on $5,000 bail shortly after her March arrest.

Raymond Fortier was released on bail from York County Jail Monday. The amount of his bail was not available this morning.

— Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.