Skramstad sentenced on Jaycee fireworks fire

The second of three defendants in a Havre arson case that caught national attention was sentenced Friday. A third defendant later in the day pleaded guilty to all charges. State District Judge David Rice sentenced Lester Skramstad, 19, to 10 years with the state Department of Corrections, all suspended, ordered him to help pay $55,831.60 restitution to the Havre Jaycees for the destruction of their fireworks stand and theft of fireworks, and ordered him to undergo mental health and chemical dependency evaluations and follow all recommendations from those evaluations. "While I'm tempted to commit you, I want to give you another chance," Rice told Skramstad. Skramstad and Charles Stratton had pleaded guilty to felony charges of arson, burglary and theft stemming from the June 30 fire that destroyed the Jaycees fireworks stand that funds the service organization's annual Fourth of July fireworks display. Stratton was sentenced last Monday to six-year deferred imposition of sentences for the same charges and ordered to pay the $55,831.60 in restitution. Anthony W. Groce, born in 1990, pleaded guilty Friday to felony counts of accountability to arson and burglary and theft. Rice said that, although Skramstad and Stratton were accused of identical crimes, their individual situations had to be considered in the sentences. As Skramstad had served time for a felony charge in juvenile court, he was not eligible for a deferred imposition, but Rice said he did not want to sentence Skramstad to time in prison or treatment at this point. "I want you to have one more opportunity to take advantage of what is out there, and it is out there,' he said. Rice sentenced Skramstad to 10 years, all suspended, for the count of arson, crediting him with 96 days Served and ordering him to serve an additional 120 days in the Hill County Detention Center at the convenience of the sheriff. The judge ordered him to share in the payment of the restitution. He sentenced Skramstad to 5-year suspended sentences, with credit for 96 days served, on the theft and burglary charges. Rice ordered all sentences to run concurrently. Rice followed the recommendation of Skramstad's defense attorney, Dan Boucher, in his sentencing. Hill County Attorney Gina Dahl had requested Rice sentence Skramstad to a 10-year sentence with all but two years suspended, allowing him to be placed in a state-run treatment facility. Dahl made arguments similar to what she had requested in Stratton's sentencing, saying that along with needing a long period in which to pay the restitution, the severity of the crime and endangering lives and its impact on the community — extending across county boundaries and even affecting Jaycees in other states — called for a more severe sentence. Dahl had requested a 10-year suspended sentence for Stratton. Rice instead imposed a six-year deferred imposition of sentence, which will allow Stratton to request the felonies be struck from his record if he abides by all conditions of his release for the probationary period. Friday, Skramstad said he feels remorse for what he did. "I'm not sorry I got caught, but I am sorry for what I did," he said, adding that it was not a juvenile act but a serious crime that affected people across the country, including Jaycees sending money to help put on the Havre fireworks show. Skramstad said the night of the incident, he had drank a "lethal amount" of alcohol, something he knows from experience. He said he has been drinking since he was a young child. He said when he was sentenced to the Pine Hills juvenile facility for his juvenile court offense, he had received treatment, counseling and medication that helped him with issues including chronic depression. After he was paroled from the facility and turned 18, he stopped receiving that treatment and medication and fell back into his old ways, Skramstad said. He said things like the impact of the June 30 incident and his starting to raise his infant child have changed things. He wants to change his life as well, he added. Skramstad, who currently lives in Big Sandy, said he has been applying for jobs in Havre as well as for lowincome housing where he can stay while working so he can get a job, work to control his mental health issues and chemical dependency problems and to pay restitution.