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Court Won't Hear Appeal In Hayman Fire Case
Terry Barton Wins Victory In Effort To Be Resentenced
POSTED: 10:09 am MDT October 11,
2005
DENVER -- The woman who started the worst wildfire in Colorado history has won a victory in the state Supreme Court. Justices have refused to hear prosecutors' appeal of a lower court ruling that said a judge was unfairly harsh when he ordered a 12-year prison term for Terry Lynn Barton. Barton was convicted of arson for the 138,000-acre Hayman Fire in 2002.
The state Court of Appeals in December ordered a new sentencing hearing before a new judge for Barton, who also is serving a six-year federal prison sentence. The judge had ordered a 12-year sentence that was twice the normal maximum because he found there were extraordinary circumstances to justify the sentence. The appeals court said a U.S. Supreme Court ruling from last year means that only juries can make those kinds of decisions in most cases.The fire destroyed 133 homes, a commercial building and 466 outbuildings. Prosecutors said it caused at least $29.9 million in damage. Barton was working for the U.S. Forest Service when she started the fire by burning several pieces of paper in a campground fire pit during a total fire ban.Last year, Barton told 7News that she was sorry for starting the fire. She was interviewed in the federal prison in Texas where she is currently serving her federal sentence.
Previous Stories:
- December 23, 2004: 'I Made A Mistake,' Hayman Firestarter Tells 7NEWS
- December 16, 2004: Prison Sentence Tossed Out For Hayman Firestarter
- June 8, 2004: Mountain Community Anxious On Anniversary Of Hayman Fire
- March 9, 2004: Woman Who Started Hayman Fire Back In Court
- March 24, 2003: Barton Begins Serving Federal Sentence Monday
- March 12, 2003: Barton Wants New Judge, New Sentence
- March 7, 2003: Barton's Lawyer: Judge Too Close To Fire To Issue Fair Sentence
- March 5, 2003: Barton Gets 12 Years For Hayman Fire
- February 21, 2003: Hayman Firestarter Gets 6 Years
- January 27, 2003: Hayman Firefighter Says He's Being Burned By System
- January 7, 2003: Judge Rules Barton Must Wear Ankle Bracelet
- December 11, 2002: Legal Troubles Not Over For Terry Barton
- December 7, 2002: Barton Pleads Guilty In Hayman Fire Case
- November 27, 2002: Hayman Fire Suspect Makes Plea Agreement
Copyright 2006 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.








