Stratton sentenced for arson

Charles S. Stratton of Havre, born in 1989, was sentenced in state District Court in Havre to six years of probation and ordered to pay nearly $56,000 in restitution for his role in the destruction of the Havre Jaycees fireworks stand after stealing more than $45,000 worth of fireworks from the stand. Stratton pleaded guilty to ar s on, burglary and the f t i n December. Stratton and Lester Skramstad and Anthony Groce, both born in 1990, were charged after an investigation linked them to the June 30 destruction of the Jaycees fireworks stand, which the service organization used to pay for their annual Fourth of July community fireworks display. Amanda Christofferson, who was president of the Jaycees at the time the stand was destroyed, said after the hearing that she hopes the restitution will ensure the organization's annual Independence Day fireworks display will continue far into the future. Christofferson said that she is glad the first prosecution is complete. "It's been a long process," she Said. Christofferson said while on the stand in the hearing that Stratton needs to understand how large an effect the fire had. It not only impacted the Jaycees, it impacted everyone in the community who watches the annual fireworks display, the people who buy fireworks from the Jaycees and even impacted people from across the country. Christofferson said Jaycees from as far away as the East Coast were sending money to help the Havre chapter, including elderly women sending $10 with apologies that they could not send more. She added that Havre Jaycees members volunteering to sell fireworks had personal property also destroyed in the fire, including items for her own wedding which she was planning at the time. She said it was amazing how the community came together to help the Jaycees put on the night fireworks display, which went off on July 4 as planned. "I hope you have learned your lesson, get on with your life, and help the community out," she said. Stratton said in a statement before he was sentenced that he has learned from his experience in the courts that he has to be accountable for his actions. "If there is one thing I learned from this, it's to stand up, be honest and sincere, to be respectful," he said. Judge David Rice elected to impose a deferred imposition of sentence rather than a suspended sentence or imposing prison time. "I see this as a reasonable alternative," Rice said while imposing the sentence, saying that the sentence gave a lengthy, supervised probationary period while giving Stratton the chance to pay back the Jaycees and clear his name. Rice imposed a six-year deferred imposition of sentence on Stratton Monday for each of the felony charges, ordering them to run concurrently. He also ordered Stratton to serve 120 days in jail, with credit for 23 days served, in increments of at least three days at a time. Rice ordered Stratton to pay in restitution $45,531.60 for the fireworks, $300 for personal property of Jaycees that was destroyed in the fire and $10,000 for the destruction of the stand itself. The sentence included paying a 10-percent surcharge on the restitution, as well as paying fees and a surcharge for each of the charges to which he pleaded guilty. Rice ordered the restitution to paid along with others ordered to pay it, which could mean Stratton would pay a total of one-third of the restitution, more than one-third or even all of the amount. Skramstad pleaded guilty to arson, burglary and theft on Dec. 2 and is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. Groce is scheduled to plead guilty Feb. 5, at 2:30 p.m. In giving the defer red imposition of sentence, Rice followed the recommendations presented by Stratton's attorney, Mark Mackin. Hill County Attorney Gina Dahl had requested Stratton receive a 10-year suspended sentence, which would have given a longer period in which to pay the restitution. In imposing the sentence, Rice agreed with an earlier comment by Mackin that the restitution must be paid regardless of whether it is paid during the sentence or after. Rice commented that the sentence allows Stratton to clear his name — he can petition to have the felonies struck from his record if he does not violate conditions of his release during the probation — but that committing a violation could carry a stiff penalty. Rice told Stratton that if he so much as receives a ticket for not having car insurance, or for speeding or for a misdemeanor drug or alcohol charge — all charges Stratton already has on his record — the penalty could be to revoke the deferred imposition and resentence him to up to 20 years in prison. "Really, it has the potential to be a 26-year sentence," Rice said.