West
Ex-criminology professor jailed for 5 years for 'arson spree' during Dixie Fires
A former college professor who specialized in social deviancy was sentenced on Thursday to more than five years in prison for starting four fires in 2021, some of which threatened to trap firefighters as they responded to one of the largest wildfires in California history, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California said.
Gary Stephen Maynard, 49, pleaded guilty in February to three counts of arson on federal property after he set fires behind crews battling the Dixie Fire, which became the second-biggest wildfire in California history, scorching more than 1,500 square miles and destroying more than 1,000 structures.
Maynard, of San Jose, admitted to starting four fires: the Cascade and Everitt fires on July 20 and 21, and the Ranch and Conard Fires on Aug. 7. He pleaded guilty to three as part of a plea deal and was jailed for 63 months in total. The fires were extinguished before they could destroy any buildings, according to prosecutors.
DIXIE FIRE BECOMES LARGEST SINGLE WILDFIRE IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY
Gary Stephen Maynard was sentenced on Thursday to five years and three months in prison for starting four California wildfires in 2021, (Gary Stephen Maynard )
“Maynard went on an arson spree on federal land while California faced one of the worst fire seasons in history,” U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert announced.
“He intentionally made a dangerous situation more perilous by setting some of his fires behind the men and women fighting the Dixie fire, potentially cutting off any chance of escape. It is only because of the quick response by the U.S. Forest Service — and the actions of civilian witnesses — that those fires were extinguished as quickly as they were.”
Forest Service agents started investigating Maynard on July 20 after the Cascade Fire was reported on the western slopes of Mount Shasta.
An investigator found Maynard underneath his black Kia Soul that had its front wheels stuck in a ditch and its undercarriage centered on a boulder, court papers said. He was living out of his vehicle at the time.
EX-PROFESSOR CHARGED WITH STARTING FOUR CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
A firefighter sprays water along Highway 89 near South Lake Tahoe, in California on Sept. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A second fire erupted the next day on Mount Shasta, and investigators later found tire tracks similar to those made by the Kia.
They eventually placed a tracking device under Maynard’s car which confirmed he had traveled to the area where the Ranch and Conard Fires erupted in the Lassen National Forest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson wrote in a detention memo that Maynard had entered the evacuation zone and “began setting fires behind the first responders fighting the Dixie Fire.”
In sentencing memorandums, Maynard’s attorney said her client was suffering from untreated and significant mental health issues when he set the fires and has sought treatment since then.
Maynard was an adjunct faculty member at Santa Clara University from September 2019 to December 2020 and he had also taught criminology and sociology at Chapman and Sonoma State Universities, the New York Times reports, citing prosecutors. He specialized in criminal justice, cults and deviant behavior.
A Santa Clara University colleague of Maynard’s told the police in October 2020 that Maynard was struggling with anxiety, depression, split personality and wanted to kill himself, the complaint said, per the New York Times.
Scorched cars and trees after a wildfire in Plumas County, California, in 2021. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Maynard was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $13,081 in restitution as part of the plea agreement.
The Dixie Fire began on July 13, 2021, with fire eventually scorching the Plumas National Forest, Lassen National Forest and Butte, Lassen, Plumas and Tehama counties.
The fire cost more than $610 million over three months to bring it under control, the most expensive in California history, according to the head of Cal Fire.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Seattle, WA
Seattle Mariners call up pitcher from Double-A
Reliever Nick Davila is making the jump from Double-A to the big leagues to join the Seattle Mariners.
The Mariners announced they selected Davila’s contract from Double-A Arkansas on Saturday.
Joel Sherman of MLB Network and The New York Post first reported the right-hander was being promoted to the major leagues earlier in the day.
Mariners Injury Update: Latest on Miller, Robles and more
In a corresponding move, left-hander Josh Simpson was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.
Davila filled the last open spot on the Mariners’ 40-man roster.
Davila, 27, has pitched in eight games with the Travelers this season, posting a 2.00 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 10 strikeouts to one walk over nine innings of work. He’s held opponents to a .182 batting average.
Davila also pitched in seven games for the Mariners during spring training, compiling 6.75 ERA and six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
Davila, who signed a minor league contract with the Mariners in March 2023, is in his fourth year in the organization. He pitched across three levels of the minors in 2023, including making three starts for Triple-A Tacoma, his only experience above Double-A during his pro career.
In 2024, the Hialeah, Fla., native pitched in 13 games with a 4.98 ERA over 18 2/3 innings for High-A Everett.
Last season, Davila appeared in 39 games at Double-A. He had a 3.55 ERA over 50 2/3 innings.
Davila went undrafted out of South Florida in 2020 before signing a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers a month after the draft. He made his pro debut the following season with Detroit’s Single-A affiliate.
Simpson, 28, was called up by the Mariners on Friday when right-hander Matt Brash was placed on the 15-day injured list with right lat inflammation. He has yet to pitch in a big league game this season.
In nine appearances with Tacoma prior to be called up, Simpson had a 0.96 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and six walks allowed over 9 1/3 innings.
Simpson pitched in 31 games as a rookie for the Miami Marlins last season, posting a 7.34 ERA over 30 2/3 innings.
The Mariners continue a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. Radio coverage on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports app begins with the pregame show at 5:30 p.m.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Seattle Mariners place Matt Brash on IL, recall lefty reliever
• When Brendan Donovan is expected to return to Mariners
• The Seattle Mariners’ competition in AL West doesn’t look strong
• Checking in on how notable ex-Mariners are doing with new teams
• Salk’s Take: What’s behind Mariners shaking off their slow start
San Diego, CA
San Diego Padres to sell team to investor group led by Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano, who will become the second Latino owner in baseball | Fortune
The San Diego Padres have reached an agreement to sell control of the team to an investor group led by Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano.
The family of late owner Peter Seidler formally announced the deal Saturday. The sale must still be approved by Major League Baseball.
The deal with private equity billionaire Feliciano and his wife took shape last month at an MLB-record valuation of $3.9 billion. The Padres’ announcement of the deal didn’t give specifics on the members of the investor group or the purchase price.
“The Padres are more than a baseball team; they are a unifying force in San Diego, rooted in community, connection and belonging,” Jones and Feliciano said in a joint statement. “As life and business partners, and as a family, we are honored to lead this next chapter together. We have worked hard for everything we have achieved, and we have built it together. We see that same spirit in this team and its fans, and we know what it takes to win. We are committed to showing up, listening and earning the trust of this community while building on the strong foundation established by the Seidler family.
“This is about more than baseball — it’s about boosting the pride, energy, and connection that define the Padres, investing in community, deepening belonging and ensuring this team remains accessible and endures for generations. We are all in — with the goal of bringing a World Series championship to San Diego.”
Seidler’s family began to explore a sale of the Padres last November, two years after the death of the popular Peter Seidler, who became the Padres’ primary owner in 2020. His brother, John Seidler, has served as the Padres’ chairman since his death.
“When I became control person, my goal was to continue building on our recent success in pursuit of a World Series championship for the city of San Diego and our faithful fans,” John Seidler said in a statement. “As I pass the baton to Kwanza and José, I do so with full confidence that they share that vision as well as the Padres’ deep commitment to San Diego. It’s what the team, our fans and the community deserve. Our family loves this team.”
Peter Seidler joined the Padres’ ownership group in 2012 when John Moores sold the team for $800 million to a group headed by Ron Fowler. Seidler took over and immediately endeared himself to San Diego’s fans with his aggressive financial backing of general manager A.J. Preller, who built a team that has reached the playoffs in four of the past six years.
The Padres have been a hot ticket for several years as San Diego’s only team in the four biggest North American sports leagues, ranking second in the majors in attendance last season. Preller’s roster is off to another strong start this season, sitting second in the NL West at 19-12 heading into a home game against the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night.
Jones and Feliciano already got a start on their new endeavor last month when they traveled to Mexico City to watch the Padres’ international series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The couple was spotted sitting with Padres CEO Erik Greupner.
Feliciano will become the second Latino owner in baseball, joining Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno. Latino and Hispanic players comprise roughly 30% of major league rosters.
Alaska
Relatives, friends and supporters walk to bring attention to Alaska Indigenous victims
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