A Dolores man facing more than four decades in prison opted to plead guilty today to escape any jail time in connection to the 2012 Roatcap Fire.
Accepted by District Court Judge Todd Plewe on Thursday, Nov. 21, the plea deal doesn't 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.
Thursday's 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
"Mr. Stratton has to pay his debt to society," he said in denying the agreement.
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's 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.
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.
"The restitution is something that Mr. Stratton will be on the hook for the rest of his life," she said.
Judge Plewe said the five-year supervised probation would better ensure that Stratton makes full restitution. He also warned Stratton that pleading guilty wouldn't resolve him of any potential future judgments or liens.
"I don't think (Stratton) will ever be able to repay," said Judge Plewe.
Ordered to present total financial damages prior to sentencing, Furse said restitution could exceed $100,000.
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.
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