MAN ARRESTED FOR CAUSING FIRE IN KAIBAB NATIONAL FOREST DURING FIRE RESTRICTIONS

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Stacy A. Postel, 49, whose last known address was in Burbank, Calif., was arrested on May 22, 2012 and charged with (1) building or maintaining a campfire during fire restrictions; (2) causing timber, trees, brush, or grass to burn except by permit; (3) leaving a fire without completely extinguishing it; (4) littering; and (5) providing false information to a Forest Service officer.

            According to the criminal citations filed in the case, on May 22, 2012, a wildfire occurred on the Kaibab National Forest at Moonset Pit near the town of Parks, Ariz. The fire burned approximately four acres of National Forest land during a Forest Service and county fire ban. A Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer determined that the fire was caused by an abandoned campfire that was not properly extinguished. According to the citations, several people contacted the Forest Service officer to inform him that they had observed a white male with a large bedroll and backpack walking west away from the area of the fire earlier in the morning. An Arizona Department of Public Safety officer later located and stopped Postel on Highway 64. The citations allege that Postel had a campfire in the area of the wildfire even though there were several medium yellow and red signs nearby that stated campfires were prohibited. The citations also allege that Postel left litter in the area of the campfire and provided a false name to a Forest Officer when he was arrested.

Postel remains in custody pending trial. He is scheduled to appear in court for a status conference on June 20, 2012, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark E. Aspey in Flagstaff.

            The crimes with which Postel has been charged are all Class B misdemeanors. Each offense carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail, a $5,000.00 fine, or both.

            A criminal citation is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

            The investigation in this case was conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Flagstaff.

CASE NUMBER:                  3:12-po-4141-MEA
RELEASE NUMBER:           2012-136(Postel)

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az