Former teacher convicted of arson as crews battle Dixie Fire

Lina PortmanJune 1, 2024

0 2 minutes read

INVESTIGATION. A FORMER BAY AREA CRIMINOLOGY PROFESSOR HAS NOW BEEN CONVICTED OF STARTING A SERIES OF FIRES BEHIND FIREFIGHTERS ON THE FRONTLINES OF THE DIXIE FIRE. NOW THIS FIRE WAS STARTED BY PG&E POWER LINES ON JULY 13 IN THE FEATHER RIVER CANYON. IT BURNED NEARLY A MILLION ACRES IN BUTTE, PLUMAS, LASSEN, SHASTA AND TEHAMA COUNTIES. PROSECUTORS SAY GARY MAYNARD, 49, OF SAN JOSÉ, WENT INTO A CIVIL FIRE WHILE THE WILD FIRE BURNED AND ONE OF THE STATE'S WORST FIRE SEASONS OF THE YEAR HISTORY. They say he intentionally started four fires behind firefighters, which had the potential to cut off escape routes. WITNESSES WARN THE FOREST SERVICE AND MAYNARD IS NOW SENTENCED TO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS IN PRISON. HE HAD WORKED AS

Former college professor convicted of arson as crews battle Dixie Fire

A former college professor was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for a series of arsons in Northern California in 2021, as fire crews battled the second-largest blaze in history of State. Gary Stephen Maynard, 49, of San Jose, pleaded guilty in February to three counts of arson in connection with fires in the Shasta National Forest and near the Dixie Fire in the Shasta National Forest. Lassen. The Dixie Fire burned more than 1,500 square miles after igniting July 13 and destroyed more than 1,000 homes. Maynard was accused of starting the fire behind firefighters battling the Dixie fire. According to the Department of Justice, Maynard admitted to starting the Cascade Fire on July 20, 2021, and the Everett Fire the next day. He also admitted to starting the Ranch Fire and the Conard Fire on August 7 of that year. Investigators arrested Maynard after placing a tracking device under his car. The Associated Press reported that he was a former lecturer on criminal justice issues at Santa Clara University and Sonoma State University for a time. Maynard faced up to 20 years in prison and a $750,000 fine. In addition to the prison sentence of more than five years, he was ordered to pay $13,081 in restitution. | MORE | California regulators agree on $45 million penalty for PG&E's involvement in the 2021 Dixie Fire

Gary Stephen Maynard, 49, of San Jose, pleaded guilty in February to three counts of arson in connection with fires in the Shasta National Forest and near the Dixie Fire in the Shasta National Forest. Lassen.

The Dixie Fire burned more than 1,500 square miles after igniting July 13 and destroyed more than 1,000 homes. Maynard was accused of starting the fire behind firefighters battling the Dixie fire.

According to the Department of Justice, Maynard admitted to starting the Cascade Fire on July 20, 2021, and the Everett Fire the next day. He also admitted to starting the Ranch Fire and the Conard Fire on August 7 of that year.

Investigators arrested Maynard after placing a tracking device under his car. The Associated Press reported that he was a former lecturer on criminal justice issues at Santa Clara University and Sonoma State University for a time.

Maynard faced up to 20 years in prison and a $750,000 fine. In addition to the prison sentence of more than five years, he was ordered to pay $13,081 in restitution.

| MORE | California regulators agree on $45 million penalty for PG&E's involvement in the 2021 Dixie Fire