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Wednesday, January 21, 2004

The lawyer for a non-Indian woman who started part of Arizona's largest fire in history will challenge a ruling affirming the White Mountain Apache Tribe's jurisdiction.

A tribal judge refused to throw out civil charges against Valinda Jo Elliott. Her attorney said the decision will give the tribe jurisdiction "over anybody," the Associated Press reported.

Elliott started part of the Rodeo-Chediski Fire, which burned more than 275,000 acres of the Apache reservation. A tribal member who started another part of the fire pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing in federal court.

Get the Story:
Case against woman who started part of mammoth fire to stay in tribal court (AP 1/20)

Relevant Links:
White Mountain Apache Tribe - http://www.wmat.nsn.us

Related Stories:
Judge weighs jurisdiction in reservation arson case (12/18)
House passes resolution in honor of Apache 'hero' (11/05)
BIA firefighter pleads guilty to setting major fire (10/21)
Woman asks tribal court to dismiss fire charges (08/05)
Ariz. tribe sues non-Indian who started fire (06/30)
Tribe still struggling a year after major fire (06/16)
BIA firefighter claims mentally unfit (12/13)
White woman won't be charged for fire (7/19)
Apache Tribe to get $1M tribal donation (7/11)
Ariz. grand jury indicts for fire (7/3)
White woman remains free for fire (7/2)
Charges brought in Ariz. fire (7/1)
Ariz. tribe shocked by fire charges (7/1)
Ariz. fire burning reservation (6/28)
Ariz. fire fuels racial animosity (6/27)
Ariz. reservation declared a disaster (6/26)
Apache community saved from flames (6/25)
Ariz. fire forces thousands to flee (6/24)
Ariz. wildfire rages on (6/21)

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