Golden – Two 15-year-old boys pleaded guilty today to starting the July 22 fire that burned more than 200 acres of brush and grassland on North Table Mountain.
The teens, who are not identified due to their age, were each sentenced by Jefferson County Magistrate Chris Voisinet to one year of probation supervised by the juvenile diversion program and 40 hours of community service.
Community service work will be done with the Fairmount Fire Protection District, which was the lead agency in battling the blaze.
The two teens will split paying $170,000 in restitution for damage to victims’ properties and the cost of fighting the fire. Their parents’ homeowner insurance will cover the amount.
Voisinet reserved payment of restitution for 90 days while details are worked out.
Under the agreement reached with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, both teens pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree arson, a class-4 felony, and one count of firing woods and prairies, a class 2 misdemeanor.
Voisinet said the felony charges will be dismissed if the teens successfully complete their supervised probation, which consists of regular meeting with diversion officers, urine analyses and other requirements based on individual assessments.
“This should go a long ways in making amends,” Voisinet said.
“We’re grateful that it is over,” said the father of one boy. The attorney for the other boy refused to comment.
Investigators said the two boys were seen shooting off fireworks on Jefferson County Open Space land and a backpack containing fireworks was confiscated from the boys after a neighbor held them for authorities.
Due to dry, windy conditions, the fireworks touched off a fire that quickly threatened several homes. More than 100 firefighters from 10 departments battled the blaze. Smoke from North Table Mountain, one of the metro area’s geologic icons, could be seen for miles.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
