A Colorado man was charged with arson after an investigation right into a wildfire this summer season that destroyed 29 properties and precipitated greater than $30 million in property harm, authorities mentioned.
Jason Alexander Pastime, 49, was arrested final week, Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen mentioned. He appeared in court docket on a first-degree arson cost in reference to the hearth, which began on a visitor ranch the place he labored west of Loveland, about 60 miles north of Denver.
His bail was set at $450,000.
The fireplace escaped a hearth ring on the visitor ranch on July 29, Feyen mentioned. It’s unclear whether or not it was intentional or unintentional, he mentioned. The wildfire, which additionally broken 4 different properties and destroyed 21 outbuildings, burned 15 sq. miles of land earlier than it was contained on Aug. 17.
The associated fee to place out the hearth was greater than $11 million, District Lawyer Gordon McLaughlin instructed the court docket.
Pastime was fired from his job on the visitor ranch after he turned a suspect within the hearth, Feyen mentioned.
Pastime is also charged with impersonating a police officer, menacing and false imprisonment for allegedly stopping vacationers on the visitor ranch’s property whereas driving an SUV designed to appear to be a legislation enforcement automobile. Pastime reportedly represented himself as legislation enforcement, falsely instructed people they had been trespassing, and pointed a firearm at them, investigators mentioned. That occurred in March 2023, one of many victims mentioned in court docket on Wednesday.
Pastime had a pickup truck geared up to appear to be a wildland firefighter truck and used it to get previous checkpoints through the hearth, the sheriff mentioned. He’s additionally charged with two misdemeanor counts of impersonating a public official.
Pastime’s bail was initially set at $250,000, however McLaughlin requested for it to be elevated to $1 million money. He mentioned he was involved Pastime may depart the world and that he’s being investigated for fires set in Wyoming. McLaughlin didn’t say when or the place these fires occurred and court docket officers mentioned the affidavit was sealed.
A public defender unsuccessfully argued for his bail to stay at $250,000, saying Pastime had his personal enterprise and lived in Loveland along with his spouse.
Pastime’s subsequent court docket look is ready for Sept. 24.
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Subjects
Disaster
Pure Disasters
Wildfire
Colorado
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