Another marijuana grower suspected of starting California wildfire
A 45-year-old man suspected of tending a large marijuana grow in the Sequoia National Forest is being charged with starting a 1,600-acre wildfire there July 11, the second suspected marijuana grower believed to have sparked a major blaze this year.
Edgardo Fournier of Perris was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Fresno on five counts that include marijuana cultivation of 2,090 plants, damaging forestlands and setting timber afire.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in U.S. District Court, Fournier set the Nicolls fire after he became concerned that other men at the marijuana grow he was tending planned to kill him and bury him at the site.
The affidavit from U.S. Forest Service special agent Brian Adams says Fournier was spotted at 2 p.m. the day of the fire by a Forest Service helicopter pilot who was making water drops on the blaze.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/07/24/6581125/another-marijuana-grower-suspected.html
