A former college lecturer on “criminal justice issues” will get first-hand experience of the subject after being sentenced to five years and three months in prison on Thursday.
Gary Stephen Maynard has pleaded guilty in January to starting several fires in California that could have resulted in more disasters than they did.
Maynard, 49, previously attended Santa Clara University and Sonoma State University, KCRA reported.
The former lecturer admitted to starting at least four fires in July and August 2021, according to a Justice Department news release, and pleaded guilty to three counts of arson.
One count of arson was dismissed as part of a plea agreement, according to court records cited by The New York Times.
Maynard is accused of starting the fire back The same firefighters were used to contain the Dixie Fire, which eventually destroyed more than 1,000 homes and spread over 1,500 square miles, according to KCRA.
“They intentionally made a dangerous situation more dangerous by setting several fires behind the men and women fighting the Dixie fire, which cut off their chances of escape,” Phillip A. Talbert, US attorney for the Eastern District of California, said. in the statement (available in full below).
It ended up being the second largest fire in California history, according to the outlet.
“Maynard faces the possibility of up to 20 years in prison and a $750,000 fine,” KCRA reported. “In addition to a prison sentence of more than five years, he was ordered to pay $13,081 in restitution.”
His attorney said Maynard “suffered from untreated and significant mental health issues at the time of the fire and has sought treatment ever since,” according to Fox News.
“A Santa Clara University colleague of Mr. Maynard’s, who has not been identified, told police in October 2020 that Mr. Maynard suffered from anxiety, depression, split personality, and wanted to kill himself, the complaint said,” according to The Times.
You can read the news release from the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California below in its entirety.
Gary Stephen Maynard, 49, of San Jose, was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $13,081 in restitution for three counts of burning a house on Federal property, US Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced .
“Maynard set fires on federal land when California was facing one of the worst fire seasons in history. He deliberately made a dangerous situation more dangerous by setting several fires behind the men and women fighting the Dixie fire, potentially cutting off their chances of escape,” said US Attorney Talbert. “It was only because of the quick response of the U.S. Forest Service – and the actions of civilian witnesses – that the fire was extinguished so quickly. Today’s sentence underscores the danger posed by the Maynard fire and serves as a reminder that federal law enforcement takes seriously threats to lives, property, and the national forest.” caused by combustion.
U.S. Forest Service Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tony Magarrell praised the actions of the Agent and his fellow law enforcement agencies who identified Maynard early in the investigation, “These actions led to the quick arrest of Maynard before more damage was done to Forest Service land and increased the threat to the lives of firefighters.” fires. This is a great example of cooperation between law enforcement agencies for the public and keeping us safe.
According to court documents, Maynard set a series of fires in the Shasta Trinity National Forest and near the Dixie Fire in the Lassen National Forest. Maynard set several fires behind firefighters active against the Dixie Fire, effectively surrounding these firefighters as they responded to one of the largest wildfires in California history. Maynard admitted to starting the following fires during this burn: Cascade Fire (July 20, 2021), Everitt Fire (July 21, 2021), Ranch Fire (August 7, 2021), and Conard Fire (Aug. 7, 2021).
This case is the result of an investigation by the US Forest Service with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, CalFire, the California Highway Patrol, and the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shea J. Kenny and Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case.
This article first appeared in The Western Journal.