California Professor Goes On ‘Arson-Setting Spree’

A California criminal justice professor has been accused of going on an “arson-setting spree” in Northern California next to the state’s massive Dixie Fire in late July.

“Gary Maynard, age 47, set a series of fires in Lassen National Forest and Shasta Trinity National Forest, an area in rural Northern California near where the Dixie Fire, the second-largest in state history, still burns, federal prosecutors allege,” the Daily Beast reported. “California Forestry Department agents arrested him Saturday. He is charged with intentionally setting fire to public land and is being held without bail in the Sacramento County Main Jail.”

“Maynard was first suspected at the scene of the Cascade Fire, a July 20, 2021, wildfire where his vehicle was parked along a dirt road a couple of hundred meters away. Brian Murphy, a certified wildland fire investigator, responded and spotted a man who appeared to be living in his vehicle, a black 2012 Kia Soul…” KCRA reported.  “Murphy spoke with the only other person parked on that dirt road, who told him that the Kia showed up earlier in the morning before the fire started.

The witness said he had a brief interaction with the man before the man pulled out a large knife on him, the affidavit reads. The witness described the man to Murphy as mentally unstable.”

“Bolem and Murphy later returned to where the car was parked and noticed burnt material and an unused wooden match near where the Kia was parked,” KCRA continued.  “There was a second burn pile nearby with tire tread patterns that resembled the tread patterns of the Kia, based on a photo Murphy took while speaking to Maynard. The pattern matched several other wildfires.”

Maynard has denied the allegations against him. After being arrested, according to court filings, the criminal justice professor threatened police officers in the Lassen County Jail, screaming, “I’m going to kill you, f—king pig! I told those f—kers I didn’t start any of those fires!”

It should be noted that threatening a police officer is in violation of California Penal Code 241(c), a potential felony.