| Wildfire suspect's
husband agrees to use home to raise
bail Posted by: Web Producer Paola Farer |
June
26, 2002 - 10:22 PM
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DENVER (AP) - The husband of a U.S. Forest Service
employee accused of starting the largest wildfire in Colorado history agreed
to use their home as security for her bond. John Barton consented Wednesday to using the home to help his wife, Terry Barton, meet her $600,000 bail. Terry Barton, 38, faces four federal charges including arson for allegedly starting a 137,000-acre blaze that has destroyed at least 115 homes and cost more than $26 million to fight. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Matsch also granted an order sealing the address of the property to be used as bond, the address of the halfway house where Barton will stay as a condition of her release, and John Barton's current address. Information relating to Terry Barton's required mental health counseling was also sealed. Barton, an 18-year Forest Service employee, was indicted by a federal grand jury and was being held in Jefferson County. Teller County prosecutors may also file state charges against Terry Barton because the death of a 50-year-old woman has been linked to the fire. Ann Dow died after smoke engulfed her home near Florissant three days after the fire started on June 8. Her doctor listed smoke inhalation and asthma as the cause of death. Investigators from the Teller County district attorney's office planned to meet with Gary Dow, her husband, on Thursday. Dow said he does not plan to file a lawsuit. "When the dust settles, I may feel differently, but I don't think there was any intent," Dow said. "But at the same time, I lost my wife." No autopsy was performed, a fact that could complicate a prosecution, county prosecutor Dan May said.
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