California Reinstates Tougher Arson Penalties As King Fire Rages
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California has reinstated tougher penalties for aggravated arson just as authorities charge a Northern California man with setting a fire that has burned nearly 120 square miles of timber in the mountains east of Sacramento.
SB930 by Republican Sen. Tom Berryhill of Modesto takes effect immediately after Gov. Jerry Brown announced signing it Friday.
The El Dorado County District Attorney's Office says the tougher penalties will not apply to Wayne Allen Huntsman even if he is convicted. That's because the King Fire burning west of Lake Tahoe started before the bill became law.
The previous law expired in January. The renewed law allows for prison terms of 10 years to life if arson damage exceeds $7 million.
Authorities say the fire is costing $5 million a day to fight.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.
Related articles
- Officials: King Fire Was Human-Caused, Arrest Made
- King Fire Now At 76,376 Acres, 10% Containment
- King Fire: Cooler Weather Slows Wildfire's Spread, Allows Firefighters To Double Containment
- More Than 2,000 Homes Threatened As King Fire Surges To Nearly 28,000 Acres
- Suspect In King Fire Had Previous Run-Ins With The Law
- King Fire: Shift In Weather Pattern Could Send Smoke Drifting Into Valley This Weekend
- CA Lawmaker Proposes New Oil Tax Amid Rising Gas Prices
- Wildfire Burns Over Inmate Firefighting Crew In El Dorado County
- Arson Suspected In South Sacramento House Fire
- Fire Investigators Say 2 East Sacramento Fires Last Week Are Arson