All charges dropped against man accused in massive Yosemite forest fire, due to deaths of witnesses
Federal prosecutors have dropped all charges against a bow hunter accused of causing a massive forest fire in 2013, due to the deaths of two key witnesses.
Keith Matthew Emerald, 32, had faced charges of starting a fire and lying to a government agency concerning the Rim fire that burned 250,000 acres in and around Yosemite National Park, reports the Los Angeles Times (sub. req.). Investigators say he ignored temporary no-fire restrictions at the time.
“I appreciate the hard work done by the U.S. Forest Service in investigating this case, and I understand that the government’s motion to dismiss will be frustrating to some,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner. “However, when circumstances change after indictment, and our judgment is that a case is no longer likely to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, it is our obligation to the defendant and to the court to dismiss that case.”
The two witnesses were considered critical to the case because they spoke to Emerald shortly after he was rescued from the area by helicopter. One witness died in a workplace accident, and the other died of cardiac arrest.
