A former college professor specializing in social deviancy has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for setting four fires in 2021, some of which endangered firefighters battling the Dixie Fire, one of California's largest wildfires.
49-year-old Gary Stephen Maynard pleaded guilty to three counts of arson on federal property after admitting to starting the Cascade and Everitt fires on July 20 and 21, and the Ranch and Conard Fires on Aug. 7. The fires were extinguished before causing damage to any structures.
Maynard's actions were described as an 'arson spree' by U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert, who highlighted the dangerous situation Maynard created by setting fires behind firefighters, potentially cutting off their escape routes.
Forest Service agents began investigating Maynard after the Cascade Fire was reported on Mount Shasta. They found Maynard near the fire with his vehicle stuck in a ditch, leading to further suspicion when a second fire erupted the next day with tire tracks matching his vehicle.
Maynard, who was living out of his car at the time, was eventually tracked to the areas where the Ranch and Conard Fires started in the Lassen National Forest.
During sentencing, Maynard's attorney cited untreated mental health issues as a contributing factor to his actions and stated that he has sought treatment since the incidents.
Maynard, who had previously taught at Santa Clara University, Chapman, and Sonoma State Universities, specialized in criminal justice, cults, and deviant behavior. Reports indicate that he had been struggling with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
In addition to the prison sentence, Maynard was ordered to pay restitution and placed on three years of supervised release as part of the plea agreement.
The Dixie Fire, which started on July 13, 2021, burned through multiple national forests and counties, costing over $610 million to contain over three months, making it the most expensive wildfire in California's history.
