Hunter charged in Rim Fire case

  UPDATE:  Emerald has still never been arrested!

USFS photo
We will never forget

  UPDATE:  Alleged charges against Emerald include initially lying to investigators after he was rescued by helicopter,  felony charges of starting fire to a forest,
and misdemeanor charges of violating local fire restrictions and leaving a fire unattended.

   If convicted, he could spend 5 years in prison and pay at least $250,000 in fines.  The cost of fighting the fire was $137 million, not even counting the death of the wildlife and hundreds of thousands of trees.

    Initially Emerald apparently admitted starting it accidentally by burning his trash, then recanted his admission. Then apparently tried to blame the fire on marijuana growers.
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  August 8, 2014:  Finally, after nearly a year, the hunter and resident of Columbia, who built an illegal campfire which started the 2013 Rim Fire, was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury late yesterday.

  His name is Keith Matthew Emerald (32). The Assistant Attorney General returned our call this morning with the information.  More to come.