FORT COLLINS — Thomas Howie will spend 1,500 hours working on the land he burned and to prevent forest fires — the request of three families that lost homes in the Crystal Fire last April.
“I don’t see Thomas Howie being in prison to benefit anyone,” said Kelly Odonnell, whose home burned and who filed a civil lawsuit against Howie.
“I would like to see him benefit the forest.”
Judge Stephen Schapanski sentenced the 36-year-old Fort Collins man on Friday to six years probation, 1,500 hours community service in the forestry realm and 60 days in jail on work release to start Monday.
Howie pleaded guilty to fourth-degree arson last November in the middle of his jury trial after hearing residents testify how they fled for their lives, racing flames in pitch black, smoke-filled conditions.
Friday, he apologized to all the victims for 13 lost homes, numerous lost buildings, 3,200 charred acres, destroyed heirlooms and lost nights of sleep.
“I’ve never gotten the opportunity to apologize to all the victims,” Howie said, choking back tears in court Friday. “I never meant for any of this to happen. I never meant to harm any of them.”
Instead, he meant to clear a tree off a cabin property owned by his father and three former or current NFL players last April 1.
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