Cousins Finally Sentenced For Starting Largest Fire In Arizona History – [POLL]
Caleb Malboeuf, 27, and his cousin David Malboeuf, 25 have finally been told by an Arizona judge what their punishment will be for starting the 2011 fire in Arizona and New Mexico that scorched 840 acres and is still being called the largest fire in Arizona history. See if you think their sentence is as ridiculous as I do after the jump.
It was called the Wallow Fire, and it burned a trail through 36 homes and businesses, forced the evacuation of an estimated 10,000 people, and cost $83 million to extinguish. The 2 cousins, Caleb and David were in the popular White Mountains area camping. They thought they had put their fire out, but a candy wrapper accidentally re-started the blaze. They pleaded guilty in March of this year to misdemeanor charges of leaving a fire unattended and failure to remove all flammable materials from a campsite. Yesterday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Aspey in Flagstaff, Arizona sentenced the two young men to two days in jail and 200 hours of community service. The pair will also spend five years on probation.
I understand that the fire was an accident, but the money spent on the fire fighting effort, the houses and businesses that were lost, and the lives that were disrupted, not to mention the priceless loss of the beautiful landscape and wildlife must surely be worth more than two days in jail. Do you think the punishment fits the crime? Take the poll below.