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Suspects who pleaded guilty to starting Lake Christine Fire sentenced Monday

Allison Marcus and Richard Miller will spend 45 days in jail, perform 1,500 hours of public service, and pay $200,000 in restitution.

EL JEBEL, Colo. — The two people who pleaded guilty for their part in sparking the Lake Christine Fire last July that destroyed several homes were sentenced for that crime on Monday afternoon. 

Allison Marcus and Richard Miller pleaded to Setting Fire to Woods or Prairie in May. The charge is a misdemeanor.  

RELATED | Lake Christine Fire suspects plead guilty to misdemeanor charge

They had been facing a felony charge of 4th-degree arson. That charge was dismissed.

Marcus and Miller will have to spend 45 days in jail, have five-years of supervised probation, perform 1,500 hours of useful public service, and pay $200,000 in restitution, according to the plea agreement.

The sentences was officially handed down during a 1:30 p.m. sentencing hearing at the Eagle County Justice Center.

“We think this is an appropriate sentence which in part requires extensive community service from each of these defendants,” said Assistant District Attorney Heidi McCollum in the release. “It provides the victims and this community a chance to actually see the defendants paying back the community for the damage they caused.” 

The district attorney's office said Marcus and Miller will have to work eight hours per week for more than 3 1/2 years to satisfy their public service requirements.

Credit: KUSA FILE PHOTO
Lake Christine Fire

The Lake Christine Fire destroyed three homes and burned 12,588 acres near Basalt and El Jebel. Numerous evacuations and pre-evacuation orders were issued due to the threatening fire.

RELATED | Video shows how close the Lake Christine Fire came to destroying more homes

The blaze was sparked when Marcus fired a tracer round at the Basalt Wildlife Area Shooting Range, according to an arrest affidavit from the Eagle County Sheriff's Office. At the time, Eagle County had Stage II fire restrictions in effect prohibiting the use of tracer rounds.

RELATED | Arrest affidavit: Lake Christine Fire suspect 'sorry'

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