Accepted by District Court Judge Todd Plewe on Thursday, Nov. 21, the plea deal doesn\u2019t call for Roger Stratton to serve time behind bars for a fire he admitted to causing on his property that ultimately scorched some 400 acres on Oct. 24, 2012. Stratton will be sentenced at 2 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2014.<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s mid-morning proceedings started with a split plea agreement that included 10 days of jail, restitution of perhaps more than $100,000, community service and one-year of unsupervised probation. After a 20-minute recess, Judge Plewe rejected the initial agreement<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Stratton has to pay his debt to society,\u201d he said in denying the agreement.<\/p>\n
Over lunch, District Attorney Will Furse and public defenders Justin Bogan and Amy Smith hammered out a new plea deal to comply with the court\u2019s demands. The modified agreement calls for Stratton to serve five years of supervised probation, pay full restitution, refrain from having an outdoor fire on his property for five years and perform an undetermined amount of community service. He might also be sentenced to mental health treatment for what he has testified is bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
Stratton said Thursday that he suffers from a bipolar disorder, and has been unable to afford prescription medications for the past six months. His only income is Social Security benefits, said Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe restitution is something that Mr. Stratton will be on the hook for the rest of his life,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Judge Plewe said the five-year supervised probation would better ensure that Stratton makes full restitution. He also warned Stratton that pleading guilty wouldn\u2019t resolve him of any potential future judgments or liens.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think (Stratton) will ever be able to repay,\u201d said Judge Plewe.<\/p>\n
Ordered to present total financial damages prior to sentencing, Furse said restitution could exceed $100,000.<\/p>\n
Stratton, 54, of Road P.5 near Dolores, admitted to starting the fire on his property near Roatcap Hill that forced the evacuation of approximately 30 nearby residences. He pleaded guilty to a single felony and lone misdemeanor count of fourth-degree arson.<\/p>\n