Former Criminology Professor Pleads Guilty to Igniting Four Wildfires in 2021

Wildland Firefighter ^ | 2 Feb 2024 | Sam Stanton

[rey]

A criminal justice professor who has worked at various California colleges pleaded guilty Thursday after being charged with setting a series of blazes near the massive Dixie Fire in 2021.

Gary Stephen Maynard, 49, pleaded guilty to three counts of arson to federal property in Sacramento federal court before U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta. Maynard, who is being held without bail in the Yuba County Jail, was arrested in August 2021 after a three-week investigation that included the use of a tracking device hidden on his vehicle by authorities who followed his movements throughout Northern California for hundreds of miles, court papers say. “It appeared that Maynard was in the midst of an arson-setting spree,” court papers filed after his arrest say. Maynard worked teaching part-time at various schools, including Santa Clara University, where he was an adjunct faculty member in the sociology department from September 2019 to December 2020, and at Sonoma State University, where he was a lecturer in the fall of 2020 specializing in criminal justice, cults and deviant behavior

[Lurker]

“at Sonoma State University, where he was a lecturer in the fall of 2020 specializing in criminal justice, cults and deviant behavior.”

Of course he was.

L

[Noumenon]

Obviously speaking from experience.

[DIRTYSECRET]

I’m waiting for a bunch of illegals from the muslim do that in sync tying up all the first responders.

[Red Badger]

Well, he’s obviously an expert...................😎

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“…held without bail” — in CALIFORNIA??

“Lecturer specializing in cults and deviant behavior” — oh, brother.

[GaltAdonis]

"....specializing in criminal justice, cults and deviant behavior. ..." ..

.

Clearly, his 'hands on' research has produced results!

[Lurker]

Mrs L did a Food Handlers course at Sonoma State way back in the day. Obviously the faculty has changed somewhat since then.

L

[V_TWIN]

Dee eyeees Chico.....day nevah lyeeeee

[Red Badger]

Possessed.......................

[subterfuge]

How many people did he kill?

[Texas_Jarhead]

“He entered the evacuation zone and began setting fires behind the first responders fighting the Dixie Fire,” court papers say of the blaze that was the second-largest in California history and burned nearly 1 million acres in five counties.

Sounds like attempted murder to me...

[Ezekiel]

A U.S. Forest Service investigator who responded to the scene found Maynard under a black Kia Soul that had its front wheels stuck in a ditch and its undercarriage centered over a boulder, court papers say.

Found under a black soul.

🤔

[metmom]

How many people died from his actions? Charge him with that many murders.

And let him recompense people for their property damage.

Arsonists need to be treated very severely for the amount of damage, life lost, and pain and suffering they cause. IMO, the death penalty is not too harsh a sentence.

[Senormechanico]

I don’t know, but let’s start with him.

[Lurker]

In feudal Japan the penalty for arson was being burned alive along with the perpetrators entire family.

I’m kind of okay with that.

L

[AppyPappy]

Gary Stephen Maynard aka Global Climate Change

[Ezekiel]

Perhaps a black Soul is the no-brainer vehicle of choice for creepazoids.

[metmom]

Seems fair enough.

[V_TWIN]

It’s been my studied opinion that a lot of college educated people I’ve been around lack plain ‘ol common sense, and taking your crappy little two wheel drive import off the hard road and get it stuck in a ditch while committing felony arson is a perfect example.