Pennsylvania Woman Sentenced in Forest Fire Case

A Pennsylvania woman working at a guest ranch near Jackson has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for setting two forest fires in 2016.
45 year old Stephanie Joy Nicole Dodson of Everett, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in Federal District Court on January 2nd on two felony counts of timber set afire. She received a sentence of 53 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised probation. Dodson was also ordered to pay over $105,000 in restitution.
Dodson pled guilty to starting two fires, one in Grand Teton National Park on August 22 known as the “Pacific Creek Road Fire,” and one on August 29 in Bridger Teton National Forest, known as the “Flagstaff Fire”. In exchange for her guilty pleas, 6 other felony counts were dismissed. She was the suspect for setting fires on August 14th, 2016; the fire in Grand Teton National Park on August 22nd; and six fires in one day on August 29th.
The United States District Attorney’s Office in Cheyenne says the Flagstaff Fire was by far the most serious due to the property threatened, and resources used to extinguish the fire.
Dodson worked at Heart Six Guest Ranch when the fires occurred, police said, but fled to Everett, Pennsylvania, shortly after, where she was arrested.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service, with assistance from Teton County Sheriff’s Office and Grand Teton National Park.