FORT COLLINS — Thomas Howie abruptly cut short his arson trial in Larimer District Court Thursday with a guilty plea.
The move came about mid-way in a scheduled four-day trial for Howie, who is accused of starting the 3,000-acre Crystal Fire on April 1.
The fire started at 2394 Granite Road on property co-owned by Howie’s father. The fire later raged and forced the evacuation of more than 100 homes and burning 13.
Prosecutors argued that Howie was negligent in starting the fire in a meadow filled with dry grasses on a day there were high-wind warnings in the area. Howie and a friend, Nathan Whitehead, tried to put out the blaze but they later left the area and did not report the fire.
Howie’s attorney told jurors that the fire his client started was essentially out before high winds stoked it again later on April 1.
Howie, however, stopped the proceedings Thursday and pleaded guilty to fourth-degree arson, a class 4 felony. He faces two to four years in prison but is also eligible for probation or community corrections.
He will be sentenced Feb. 10, said Larimer District Attorney spokeswoman Linda Jensen.
Howie said Thursday he felt he had a moral obligation to take responsibility for the fire after he learned some people almost lost their lives to the blaze, according to the Fort Collins Coloradoan.
“I had the moral responsibility to stick up for what I potentially did,” Howie said after his plea. “It’s a moral issue.”
Howie is still facing a civil lawsuit filed by homeowners in the area. That suit is scheduled for trial in August 2012.
In a response to the lawsuit, Howie says a downed power line or “intervening negligence” of emergency responders may have caused the wildfire.
The lawsuit claims the property is co-owned by three current and former NFL players along with Howie’s father, Kenneth Howie, a Fort Collins dentist.
The players named in the suit are Joel Dreessen, a former Colorado State University player who plays tight end for the Houston Texans; Eric Pears, a former CSU Ram and Denver Bronco and now an offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills; and Jeffrey Donaldson, a former defensive back for the Houston Oilers, Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons.
Also named in the suit is Heidi Donaldson.
Dreessen told the Denver Post in May that Howie was not working for the property owners when he was staying at the cabin.
“We did not ask him to be there and burn some sort of slash pile,” Dreessen said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
