1 year for local arsonist

PALMER - A Wasilla man charged with burning down a former methamphetamine lab, who was caught through what appears to be a case of someone butt-dialing 911, was sentenced to serve a year of jail time.

Christopher Hartman, 22, was arrested in January 2011 at a home in the Gold Rush Estate subdivision off Palmer-Fishhook Road.

Alaska State Troopers said at the time that they got wind a trailer home with multiple additions had been set alight when a person using a rechargeable cellphone apparently accidentally dialed 911 and dispatchers heard people on the open line talking about burning down a house.

"In some strange way I think there was a thought in their minds that they were kind of doing a public service, burning down the meth lab," said Hartman's attorney, Jeff Bradley.

He described his client as a young man caught up in a bit of craziness with his friend, Merl Badger, who was also charged in the case.

Badger, who got the same plea agreement as Hartman, is serving his time on house arrest wearing an ankle monitor, Superior Court Judge Beverly Cutler told the attorneys. Bradley indicated Hartman would be trying for a similar arrangement. Both will have to pay $8,900 to the owner of the trailer home.

Prior to Monday's hearing, Bradley, Hartman and Assistant District Attorney Jarom Bangerter had worked out an agreement that Hartman would plead guilty to arson and receive a year in jail with the stipulation that his conviction would be wiped clean from his record if he stayed out of trouble for three years.

Cutler, filling in this week for Judge Gregory Heath, asked Hartman a few questions before accepting the plea agreement.

"It seems that part of the problem here is that you were drinking," Cutler said to Hartman.

"Yes, I was," Hartman replied.

Cutler offered Hartman advice to "get more grown-up and behave in a more grown-up way."

"You don't burn down property just like you don't go into someone's locker and take their wallet out of their pants," Cutler told him. "That's just basic right from wrong."

Hartman told the judge he understood that and when asked how he planned to get his life back on track told her was working to become and apprentice in the plumbing and heating business.

"How easy do you think it's gong to be to not drink when your friends want to drink?" Cutler asked him.

"It's going to be hard, but you've got to do what you've got to do," Hartman replied.

Contact Andrew Wellner at Andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.