Arizona Trial delayed

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PHOENIX (AP) - The trial for a contract firefighter suspected of
starting the largest wildfire in Arizona history has been
rescheduled for January.
Leonard Gregg had been scheduled to stand trial on Nov. 5.
A U.S. District judge here Wednesday acted on a motion from
Gregg's attorney that more time was needed to prepare for the
trial, now set to begin Jan. 7 in Prescott.
Gregg, still jailed on two federal felony counts, was arrested
about 10 days after the Rodeo fire began in June in eastern
Arizona.
That wildfire eventually merged with the Chediski fire and
scorched 469,000 acres, destroyed nearly 500 homes and forced the
evacuation of about 30,000 people before it was contained in July.
The Chediski fire was started by a woman who had been lost in
the wilderness for two days and set a signal fire to attract a
television news helicopter.
Prosecutors have declined to charge the woman, saying she
displayed no criminal intent.
They allege that Gregg, 29, set fire to dry grass in hopes of
earning $8 an hour as part of a Bureau of Indian Affairs fire crew.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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PHOENIX (AP) - A woman who started part of the largest wildfire
in Arizona history asked a tribal judge to dismiss a civil case
filed by an American Indian tribe that suffered huge losses in the
blaze.
A lawyer for Valinda Jo Elliott said Monday that the White
Mountain Apache Tribe can't pursue its civil complaint against her
because it doesn't have jurisdiction over her.
The law generally prohibits tribes from filing civil cases in
tribal court against people who aren't Indians, said Kevin O'Grady,
one of Elliott's lawyers.
While there are a few exceptions to the rule, none apply to
Elliott, who isn't an Indian, O'Grady said.
David Osterfeld, an attorney for the tribe, didn't return phone
calls Monday seeking comment.
The tribe can't file criminal charges against Elliott but
maintains it can bring a civil case against her in White Mountain
Apache Tribal Court for starting a blaze that merged into last
summer's Rodeo-Chediski fire.
The fire burned 469,000 acres, destroyed 491 homes and forced
the evacuation of 30,000 people in eastern Arizona.
It also charred sacred Apache sites and accelerated the expected
demise of the White Mountain Apaches' timber industry, which
provides 60 percent of the tribe's income.
Authorities say the Rodeo fire was started by part-time
firefighter Leonard Gregg, a tribal member who faces trial on
federal criminal charges.
Elliott, who was lost on White Mountain Apache land for two
days, started the Chediski half of the fire as she tried to get the
attention of a television news helicopter. The helicopter rescued
Elliott but the fire later grew out of control.
Elliott, 32, wasn't criminally prosecuted for starting the fire
because federal prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence of
criminal intent on her part.
The tribe alleges Elliott disobeyed an executive order banning
nearly all people from certain areas of the reservation because of
extreme fire danger.
If she loses in tribal court, the tribe said Elliott could face
up to $4,500 in fines.
She also could be fined for the cost of rehabilitation of the
burned land, all expenses associated with the Chediski fire and for
punitive damages, the tribe said.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)