Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 07/10/2009

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Terry Menshek - (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Diana Gomez

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

NORTH BAY ARSONISTS SENTENCED

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that Crystal Dunigan and Robert Pringle were sentenced for their roles in setting a series of fires.  Superior Court Judge Ken Gnoss sentenced Pringle to seven years in State Prison and imposed a 6-month sentence in County Jail on Dunigan.  On April 21, 2009, Ms. Dunigan, age 20, pled no contest to five counts of arson and one count of felony solicitation of a minor, while co-defendant Robert J. Pringle, age 19, pled no contest to six counts of arson and one count of criminal solicitation.

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua stated “These defendants not only destroyed and tarnished our beautiful landscape, but put at risk the lives of fire-fighters and neighbors in the community.  We are fortunate that no one was injured.”

The charges arise from a series of fires started by Dunigan and co-defendant Robert J. Pringle during the summer months of 2008.  Approximately 13 fires took place throughout Sonoma County, including several in the areas of Mark West Springs Road, one near the Windsor Golf Course, and one near the Sonoma County Airport.  The majority of the fires were lit in the brush next to the roadway.  It was alleged that Ms. Dunigan personally lit four of the fires and drove co-defendant and former boyfriend Pringle to the other locations where fires were lit.  Mr. Pringle also lit one other fire near his home, coming within 30 yards of his neighbor's residence.  Both defendants also encouraged two minor boys to light fires. 

Detectives with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department investigated the arsons and during the service of search warrants at both defendants' homes, found pictures of one of the wildfires on Dunigan's digital camera.  Defendant Pringle admitted lighting several of the fires and was sentenced to seven years in state prison on July 1, 2009.

In deciding to sentence the defendant to probation rather than prison, Judge Gnoss took into consideration Ms. Dunigan’s age and lack of criminal record and ordered her to pay over $15,000 in restitution to the Cities of Healdsburg, Windsor, and Forestville Fire Departments and the Rincon Valley Fire District.