Moore added: “The impacts of the Rim Fire on our public lands will continue for years to come. This devastating fire caused risk to firefighters, citizens and private property, and over $125 million were spent in fire suppression costs on this beautiful and popular landscape. We’re still dealing with hazardous trees and erosion.”

Emerald, who is expected to appear in federal court in Fresno soon, could face a $250,000 fine and a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison if he's convicted of setting timber afire or for false statements made to a government agency. The two other counts involve leaving a fire unattended and violating a fire restriction order. Each count has a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

A sentence would be at the discretion of the court.

Scott Harris, U.S. Forest Service special agent in charge of the Pacific Southwest Region, said: “The cooperative work of the criminal investigators from the U.S. Forest Service, Tuolumne County District Attorney's Office, and prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office that led to the indictment is commendable. Through this investigative partnership and support from the community, we have discovered the origin, cause and identified a suspect for the massive Rim Fire.”

Read the indictment

Indictment in Rim FireIndictment in Rim Fire

Tuolumne County Resident Indicted for Starting Rim Fire in Yosemite