Dennis Dickey, Ignition of Wildfire, Arizona 2017
TUCSON, Ariz. – In a shocking turn of events, Dennis Dickey, a 37-year-old off-duty Border Patrol Agent, pleaded guilty to igniting the devastating Sawmill Fire that ravaged over 45,000 acres of land in April 2017.
The fire, which spread to Coronado National Forest, federal land administered by the U.S. Forest Service, was caused by Dickey shooting a rifle at a target filled with Tannerite, a highly explosive substance. The resulting explosion ignited the fire, which ultimately caused over $8 million in damages.
Dickey, who immediately reported the fire to law enforcement and cooperated with the investigation, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor violation of U.S. Forest Service regulations.
As part of his plea agreement, Dickey agreed to a sentence of five years' probation, as well as making a public service announcement with the U.S. Forest Service concerning the cause of the Sawmill fire.
Dickey also agreed to pay restitution totaling $8,188,069, with an initial payment of $100,000 toward the restitution judgment and monthly payments thereafter.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, with the prosecution handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson.
Case Number: 18-MJ-03295-DTF. Release Number: 2018-123_Dickey.
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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