Christopher Linsmayer pleaded guilty on Thursday to two counts of attempted arson for setting fires on his own Grand County property last fall while the area was under a fire ban and at the same time that the destructive East Troublesome fire was raging nearby.
Linsmayer, 68, is married to Denver District Attorney Beth McCann. He faces up to 90 days in the Grand County Jail plus community service and probation for the crime.
"The resolution should make clear whatever you think you're entitled to do, violating a fire ban will result in serious consequences," said Grand County DA Matt Karzen.
Grand County sheriff's deputies were called to Linsmayer's property in late October because of possible fires. They found several slash piles burning unattended and extinguished them with hand tools. When a deputy returned the next morning he found more smoking piles that had to be put out.
At the same time, hundreds of firefighters were still working on the East Troublesome fire, which had destroyed hundreds of homes in the area of Grand Lake just a week before.
The incident was not the first time Linsmayer has been in trouble for setting fires on his land.
In 2019, records show that DA Karzen filed a 4th Degree arson charge against Linsmayer after he set a slash pile on fire on his property during a Red Flag warning day.
