GOLDEN, Colo. — The man who pleaded guilty to setting eight fires in Lakewood — killing seven horses and one dog — has been sentenced to prison.
Earnest Sunday Maynes, 38, was sentenced on Friday to 25 years in prison, according to the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
He was accused and pleaded guilty to starting eight fires around the Lakewood area in April 2018.
On April 28 of that year, Lakewood police responded to the 5400 block of W. 3rd Avenue after receiving a report of a structure fire. When they arrived, they found a large barn and tons of hay were on fire. Lakewood police, with the help of the Denver Police Department, were able to get a handful of horses out of the barn while West Metro Fire worked to extinguish the blaze. In total, seven horses were killed.
At the same time, seven other locations around the neighborhood were set ablaze, including: two dumpsters, a car, a motorcycle and the space under the stairs of an apartment where 20 people lived and were asleep.
Maynes was arrested in May 2018 and charged with first-degree arson, second-degree arson and animal cruelty.
On April 4, 2019, he pleaded guilty to two counts of arson, eight counts of aggravated animal cruelty and one count of criminal mischief. He had five prior felony convictions.
He was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison.