A federal judge sentenced a former Bureau of Indian Affairs firefighter to 10 years for starting part of Arizona's largest fire in history.

Leonard Gregg, a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, received the maximum and was ordered to pay $28 million for setting the Rodeo portion of the Rodeo-Chediski Fire. He admitting started the blaze in order to get work.

The fire destroyed nearly half of the tribe's reservation, including sacred sites. The tribe's timber business, which was set to close, was wrecked.

A non-Indian woman who set the Chediski portion was not charged by federal authorities. She faces a civil suit in tribal court for which the maximum fine is $5,000.

Get the Story:
Rodeo Fire starter gets 10 years (The Arizona Daily Star 3/9)
'Rodeo' arsonist to pay $28 mil, serve 10 years (The Arizona Republic 3/9)
Firefighter gets 10 years for igniting wildfire (AP 3/8)

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

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