6 years for Arvada school arsonist
Rocky Mountain News
Published April 17, 2008 at 1:09 p.m.
Updated April 17, 2008 at 1:35 p.m.
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GOLDEN — Tyler Newhart, the arsonist who set fire to Weber Elementary School in Arvada last summer, today was sentenced to six years in prison.
Judge Jane Tidwell said she will consider reducing Newhart's sentence on the two felony counts if he completes a rigorous boot-camp-style prison disciplinary program, and gave him credit for almost a year already served.
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April 17, 2008
1:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
mrs_ollie writes:
Well over $1 million in damage and hundreds of students misplaced for a significant portion of the school year, and all he gets is 6 years? That's a shame. Where's the personal accountability?
April 17, 2008
2:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
terminated07 writes:
I know absolutely nothing about this case except for the verdict mentioned in the article above and I believe 6 years in a federal prison is a hefty amount of time, so that seems like some accountability to me. Fortunately no one was hurt and yes it is unfortunate students have/had to be relocated. Your comment seems a bit jaded as though you're a parent of one of these students who has been "inconvenienced" by the extra time you have to plan in your day to drop your child off at school, if it's because you feel they will not seem the same education prior, then I apologize for my comment if I have misinterpret your comments. But there are predators in society molesting children who receive less time than this person did. This could be his first criminal offense and it sounds like you're ready to throw him to the wolves with rapists, molesters, murders, etc. where most likely he will not be rehabilitated. Rehabilitation in the legal system is called fear and those who continue to be repeat offenders lose respect and that so called "fear" factor for the legal system after they grow immune to punishment.
So please enlighten us by explaining what would have be an appropriate punishment for this crime which would encompass personal accountability?