THE THREE INVOLVED IN GIBSON FLATS FIRE PLEAD GUILTY
The three men involved in the Gibson Flats Fire south of Great Falls last December have all pleaded guilty today in a Great Falls District Courthouse. Galvinn Munson, who the district attorney's office says was the ringleader in the case, has agreed to plead guilty to arson and criminal endangerment. And in the plea agreement the district attorney is recommending 20 years in the state pen on the arson charge. On the criminal endangerment charge Munson faces 88 years.
Galvinn Munson
Jevin Mclean has agreed to plead guilty to negligent arson. As part of his plea deal, he will be sentenced to ten years in the state prison with all suspended. He will also have to serve 180-days in a halfway house at his own expense.
The third defendant, Brandon Bennett has also agreed to plead guilty to the charge of negligent arson and will get ten years in the state prison, all suspended and have to serve 180-days in a halfway house at his own expense.
According to court documents, all three were out the morning of December first in the Gibson Flats area shooting off fireworks at each other inside their vehicle. They then shot off fireworks in 50 plus mile an hour winds and started the fire.
11 homes and 11 garages were destroyed in the blaze that also scorched hundreds of acres. They also admitted to smoking marijuana that night.
There were actually two fires set. The first was started by a roman candle and the second by a lighter. Luckily there were no lives lost.
People in the Gibson Flats area are now rebuilding. Sheriff Jesse Slaughter says they are not sure of a motive other than it may have been an impulsive act.
All three will be sentenced together in about two months before Judge Kutzman.
You can read all the plea deals in the court documents below.
attachment-Bennett Signed Plea Agreement
attachment-Mclean Signed Plea Agreement
attachment-Munson Signed Plea Agreement