2 charged in starting Wallow Fire
by Hugh Holub on Aug. 25, 2011, under crime, politicsPress Release from US Attorney’s Office:
TWO CHARGED IN ARIZONA WALLOW FIRE
PHOENIX – Two cousins have been charged for causing a fire that burned more than 538,000 acres in Arizona and part of Western New Mexico before it was contained. Caleb Joshua Malboeuf, 26, of Benson, Ariz.; and David Wayne Malboeuf, 24, of Tucson, Ariz., were charged in connection with the Wallow Fire, which started on May 29, 2011, in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest. They are scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court in Flagstaff, Ariz. on September 19, 2011.
The fire, fueled by dry and windy conditions, destroyed 32 residential structures, four commercial structures and 36 outbuildings and cost over $79,000,000 to fight. Both defendants were charged with five counts: Causing Timber to Burn, Leaving a Fire Unattended and Unextinguished, Leaving a Fire Without Completely Extinguishing It, Causing and Failing to Maintain Control of a Fire and Building a Campfire Without Removing All Flammable Material From Around the Campfire Adequate to Prevent its Escape.
“Our national forests are among our most precious resources and we all have a responsibility to care for them when we visit,” stated U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke of the District of Arizona.”This devastating fire destroyed pristine national forest, scenic wilderness, and numerous nearby homes and cabins. Its cost for future generations goes well beyond the resources used to fight it.”
Investigation into the source and origin of the Wallow Fire indicated that the fire started when an unattended and unextinguished campfire in the Bear Wallow area spread out of its fire ring and quickly spread in high winds after Caleb and David Malboeuf had gone on a hike. Upon noticing smoke from the direction of their campsite, the cousins attempted to get back to their campsite where they had left their gear. As they got closer, the smoke and flames became too intense, and they were forced to retreat.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Forest Service are in the process of contacting victims of the fire. Victims may also call 1-800-800-2570 or email usaaz.victimassist@usdoj.gov for further information.
A conviction for each of the offenses charged in the complaint carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison, a $5,000 fine or both. A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, with assistance from the Apache County Sheriff’s Office and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Schneider, District of Arizona, Flagstaff.
CASE NUMBER: 11-04234-M
August 25th, 2011 on 8:49 am
Two charged…
Some headlines are more descriptive about who, such as “immigrants…” or “illegals start fire”… and some headlines just mention simply “two”
August 25th, 2011 on 11:05 am
No kidding, remember when everyone was ranting about how “illegals” started these fires?! Now you will hear nothing but crickets since the white citizens can’t blame this on “illegals”.
August 25th, 2011 on 11:01 am
Two legal white citizens charged with Wallow fire. Let’s be fair now, remember when it was “illegal immigrants start fire”!
August 27th, 2011 on 4:23 pm
Yeah, and our own good ol’ boy, Larry Deaver, has said not one damn word since two LEGAL, STUPID WHITE GUYS shave been charged with the Wallow Fire.
August 27th, 2011 on 5:37 pm
All the politicians that blame illegals should be forced to publically admit their mistake. And these two dumb @#$s should be forced to do community service for the rest of their lives. Locking them up won’t make the world a better place.
August 27th, 2011 on 10:26 pm
I recall that the claim for illegals staring the wildfires referred to the infernos in southern AZ, not the Wallow fire.
August 27th, 2011 on 10:54 pm
I recall that Senator McCain did not specify which fire he was talking about. But he was standing in an area affected by the Wallow fire – for involvement with which the two US citizens were subsequently arrested.
This particular McCain defense is like a guy yelling “Fire!” in a theatre, and gives as justification, “Oh, I didn’t mean THIS theatre.”
McCain should just man up: “I said a stupid thing. We all mess up. I’m sorry and I’ll try to do better.” How refreshing that would be.
Also, use your head: You’re sneaking into a place and the first thing you do is set a fire? How much sense does that make?