A former college professor has been sentenced on federal charges for starting wildfires in 2021 in Shasta-Trinity and Lassen National Forests that threatened to trap firefighters as they battled the massive Dixie Fire nearby. 49-year-old Gary Stephen Maynard of San Jose entered guilty pleas in February to three counts of arson. Maynard’s destructive spree included fires he started in July and August of 2021 behind crews fighting the Dixie Fire, which became the second biggest wildfire in state history. Maynard admitted to starting the Cascade Fire, the Everitt Fire, the Ranch Fire and the Conard Fire. He was sentenced Thursday to 5 years 3 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised released. He also must pay $13,000 in restitution.
-Steve Gibson