The man accused of starting a forest fire that has burned more than 107,000 acres in southern Colorado has been charged with 141 counts of first-degree arson — one count for each home destroyed by the fire.
Jesper Joergensen’s next court appearance will be Aug. 2, said Rob McCallum, spokesman for the Colorado Judicial Branch.
All the judges in the 12th Judicial District have recused themselves from the case, and Senior Judge Gregory Lyman has been assigned to preside over it, McCallum said.
At least one employee of the judicial district is a potential victim of the crime, according to an order disqualifying the judges. Because the district is so small, almost everyone who works for the courts knows someone who has been affected by the fire, McCallum said.
“We can’t have anybody in the 12th Judicial District have anything to do with this case,” McCallum said.
The Spring Creek fire continues to burn in Costilla and Huerfano counties, and it has destroyed more than 140 homes since it started June 27. The fire has consumed 107,967 acres and is 83 percent contained.
Joergensen, 52, was arrested by Costilla County sheriff’s deputies in connection with the fire, after he called 911 to report it. Joergensen first told deputies he had been burning trash at his campsite but later said he had built a fire pit to cook meat, according to his arrest affidavit.
The indictment lists the name and address of each person whose home or garage was destroyed in the fire. Most of the homes are in the Forbes Park and Wagon Creek subdivisions.
Joergensen is from Denmark and was staying in the United States on an expired visa. An immigration detainer has been placed on him by ICE.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Firefighters from left to right Spencer Heidepriem, Lydia Zowada, and Carmella Locascio conduct a burnout operation to protect structures of the Spring Creek Fire on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. Containment numbers continue to climb in the fire as officials gain more of a handle on the large fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Taskforce leader Scott Affeldt walks through a burned area of the Spring Creek Fire as he and his crew maintain structure protection on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. Containment numbers continue to climb in the fire as officials gain more of a handle on the large fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Firefighter Lydia Zowada puts out hotspots as she and her crew conduct a burnout operation to protect structures of the Spring Creek Fire on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. Containment numbers continue to climb in the fire as officials gain more of a handle on the large fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Firefighters from left to right Carmella Locascio, Lydia Zowada and Spencer Heidepriem conduct a burnout operation to protect structures of the Spring Creek Fire on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. Containment numbers continue to climb in the fire as officials gain more of a handle on the large fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Division supervisor trainee Amy McClave oversees burnout operation to protect structures of the Spring Creek Fire on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. Containment numbers continue to climb in the fire as officials gain more of a handle on the large fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
The northern end of the Spring Creek Fire burns up a steep canyon on July 8, 2018 in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A Chinook helicopter makes a water drop near the Paradise Acres subdivision as they continue to help put out the Spring Creek Fire on La Veta Pass on July 8, 2018 between La Veta and Fort Garland.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Firefighters from Chaffee County fill up their water tender as Chinook helicopters put water on the Spring Creek Fire on La Veta Pass on July 8, 2018 between La Veta and Fort Garland.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A spot fire burns a juniper tree on the northern end of the Spring Creek Fire on July 8, 2018 in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Trees along Highway 160 smoulder from the Spring Creek Fire on La Veta Pass July 8, 2018 between La Veta and Fort Garland.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Chinook helicopters pass in the air as they do water drops near Paradise Acres as they continue to help put out the Spring Creek Fire on La Veta Pass on July 8, 2018 between La Veta and Fort Garland.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Both sides of Highway 160 have burned from the Spring Creek Fire on La Veta Pass on July 8, 2018 between La Veta and Fort Garland.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Larry Morgan walks through a small cemetery on his burned property and his home at the bottom of La Veta Pass on July 9, 2018, in La Veta, Colorado.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Larry Morgan looks at the headstone for his mother Opal Mary Ann Morgan who is buried in a small cemetery on his property and his home at the bottom of La Veta Pass on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. The family lost their home and 300 acres of beautiful land to the Spring Creek Fire. The family cemetery is where Larry's mother, cousin, and brother are buried. While he is devastated by the loss of the house and land he was thankful that the headstones survived the fire and are still standing.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Tami Morgan, 13, looks up towards her father Larry Morgan, right, as she carefully sifts through what used to be the front entrance of her family home at the bottom of La Veta pass on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. She and her family lost their home and 300 acres of beautiful land to the Spring Creek Fire. The family has lived in the area since 1977.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
The home of Larry and Jeanie Morgan lies in a pile of rubble after being completely destroyed by the Spring Creek Fire on July 9, 2018, in La Veta, Colorado. In the background is Mount Mestas or locally known as Mt. Baldy where the fire continued on a destructive path. Burned trees now cover most of the hillside. The family lost their home and more than 300 acres to the Spring Creek Fire. The fire took their home the second day of the fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A CDOT employee watches as Chinook helicopters put water on the Spring Creek Fire on La Veta Pass on July 8, 2018 between La Veta and Fort Garland.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Pronghorn antelope share a field with cattle as the northern end of the Spring Creek Fire burns up a steep canyon on July 8, 2018 in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
The northern end of the Spring Creek Fire burns up a steep canyon on July 8, 2018 in La Veta.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Heavy fire smoke hangs on La Vita Pass along Highway 160 as a result from the Spring Creek fire July 07, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Spring Creek fire evacuee David Krom, upper right, listens patiently to a fire official during a daily briefing at the Blanca/Fort Garland Community Center July 07, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Spring fire evacuees Dave and Judy Lemay fold up laundry at The Lodge Motel in Fort Garland July 06, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, center, discusses the Spring Fire during a press conference on the Sierra Grande School grounds along with U.S. REp. Scott Tipton, left, and U.S. Senator Cory Garnder in Fort Garland July 05, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Evacuees Rudy Garcia, left, and his wife of 63-years Delores, from San Antonio Texas, look over the Spring Fire map from the American Red Cross shelter at the Ft. Garland Community Center July 05, 2018.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Aaron Miller, a firefighter from Caldwell, Idaho, puts ice in a cooler on his brush truck at the spike camp before heading out on the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Spring Fire evacuee John Ray, enjoys a cold beer under an umbrella at The Lodge Motel July 06, 2018.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Caroline Shafer, manager of The Lodge Motel in Fort Garland Colorado, busy on the phone at the front desk July 06, 2018. Shafer has taken on many Spring Fire evacuees at the motel, some at no charge.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
A thank you card poster awaits firefighters inside the American Red Cross shelter at the Ft. Garland Community Center July 05, 2018. The Spring fire has consumed over 100,000 acres and has destroyed over 130 homes.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Firefighters listen to the morning briefing at the spike camp before heading out on the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Tim Mathewson, Incident meteorologist gives an update on the daily weather expected for the Spring Creek fire during the daily morning briefing at the spike camp on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Rosebud Sioux firefighter Chance Wooden Knife, left, throws a bad of ice to firefighter Smokey Kills Smart, right, at the spike camp as their Type II initial attack hand crew gets ready to head out on the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Aurora firefighter Eric Brown, left, ties his shoes as Aurora firefighter Ray Simmons chats with firefighter Doug Berg, from Platte Canyon, at the spike camp before heading out on the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Bill "Coach" Price leads Tobie, one of three rescued horses, out of the burn area of the Spring Creek Fire in Piney Ridge Ranch on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Veterinarian Dr. Romy Nicoletta, right, checks out Dancer, a horse owned by Dennis Ceremuga, left, after rescuing him and two others from the burned area one week after the Spring Creek Fire forced Ceremuga to evacuate from his home in Piney Ridge Ranch on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Veterinarian Dr. Romy Nicoletta, left, looks at a bite wound on a young puppy staying at the Huerfano County Fairgrounds during the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
The Spring Creek Fire continues to burn in Costilla county on July 3, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
La Veta Marshall Harold Willburn watches the movement of Tthe Spring Creek Fire as it continues to burn in Costilla county on July 3, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Ty Warren leaves a pen where his father's cattle are being kept at the Huerfano County Fairgrounds where displaced people have brought their pets for safe keeping as the Spring Creek Fire continues to burn on July 3, 2018, in La Veta.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Karen Bayci pets her African Gray parrot Smokey inside her shop Casa de Pajaros on July 4, 2018.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Brandon Laird holds his daughter Emmy, 4, as they watch the sun sets over the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Libby Barbee, left, her daughter Emmy, husband Brandon Laird and father Ron Barbee, far right, holds watch the sun set over the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A firefighting helicopter heads back to the heli-base operations as the sun sets on the Spring Creek Fire on July 4, 2018, in La Veta.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
David Hood of Walsenburg prepares the sigh for firefighters at La Veda. July 6, 2018.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
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Firefighters from left to right Spencer Heidepriem, Lydia Zowada, and Carmella Locascio conduct a burnout operation to protect structures of the Spring Creek Fire on July 9, 2018 in La Veta. Containment numbers continue to climb in the fire as officials gain more of a handle on the large fire.
