Florence man's sentence upheld in arson case

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Jul 2, 2008 at 7:16 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 2, 2008 at 7:16 PM MDT

HELENA - A federal appeals court panel has upheld the sentence of a 21-year-old Florence man who admitted setting wildfires on federal lands in western Montana.

Jonah Warr pleaded guilty to nine counts of arson, for fires in Missoula and Ravalli counties during the summer of 2006. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $455,000 in restitution.

Warr argued on appeal that U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy imposed an unreasonably long sentence and relied on a study about recidivism without giving him proper notice. In a decision issued Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Warr's arguments. It said that while Molloy should have given Warr notice about the study, he would have imposed the same sentence without it.

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