City News Service
LONG BEACH, Calif. — An Indiana man who touched off a May 2007 fire on Santa Catalina Island while working as a subcontractor was ordered today to pay $11.9 million in restitution to Southern California Edison.
The restitution order comes on top of more than $4 million that Gary Dennis Hunt was ordered to pay last August to three other entities, according to Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney.
Hunt’s attorney, Michael Zimbert, said his 51-year-old client will “never be able to pay” that much money, but he said he expects insurance will cover some of the amount.
“Gary Hunt is not the deep pockets,” Zimbert said after the hearing.
Hunt pleaded no contest last February to recklessly causing a fire. He was sentenced Aug. 25 to five years probation and either 720 hours of community service or 90 days of jail or Caltrans service.
Hunt sparked the May 10, 2007, fire by using an open-flamed torch to cut cables on the island’s radio tower. The flames quickly spread out of control, ultimately destroying one home and several other structures as it burned through more than 4,000 acres of brush.
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