Crime & Safety
Sonoma County Man to be Sentenced for Wildland Arsons
One fire burned west of Highway 280, near Millbrae.
By Bay City News
A Cazadero man who pleaded no contest to arson charges in connection with five wildland fires in Sonoma and San Mateo counties is scheduled to be sentenced Monday.
Nathaniel Ridgway Schmidt, 20, was arrested July 11, 2012, in connection with four fires in Sonoma County and one in San Mateo County, according to fire officials.
The San Mateo County fire happened July 11, 2011 when Schmidt was working a controlled burn near the San Andreas Dam west of Interstate 280 near Millbrae, according to SFgate. Schmidt reportedly lit a new quarter-acre fire during a training exercise.
The Sonoma County fires, which occurred between July 3, 2011, and June 9, 2012, burned 2.5 acres, according to fire officials. There were no injuries.
He was also charged with making false reports, but prosecutors said those charges were unrelated to the fires.
Schmidt's parents have previously said their son has been a volunteer with the Timber Cove Fire Protection District since he was a cadet at age 13. He is set to be sentenced Monday morning at the Sonoma County Hall of Justice in Santa Rosa.
A Cazadero man who pleaded no contest to arson charges in connection with five wildland fires in Sonoma and San Mateo counties is scheduled to be sentenced Monday.
Nathaniel Ridgway Schmidt, 20, was arrested July 11, 2012, in connection with four fires in Sonoma County and one in San Mateo County, according to fire officials.
The San Mateo County fire happened July 11, 2011 when Schmidt was working a controlled burn near the San Andreas Dam west of Interstate 280 near Millbrae, according to SFgate. Schmidt reportedly lit a new quarter-acre fire during a training exercise.
The Sonoma County fires, which occurred between July 3, 2011, and June 9, 2012, burned 2.5 acres, according to fire officials. There were no injuries.
He was also charged with making false reports, but prosecutors said those charges were unrelated to the fires.
Schmidt's parents have previously said their son has been a volunteer with the Timber Cove Fire Protection District since he was a cadet at age 13. He is set to be sentenced Monday morning at the Sonoma County Hall of Justice in Santa Rosa.
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