FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A Fresno County jury will hear the case of a Mariposa man accused of setting the destructive Oak Fire in 2022, after a judge approved a change of venue.<\/p>\n
“Fresno County Superior Court has accepted the change of venue,” Judge Houry Sanderson said. CAL FIRE law enforcement officers arrested Edward Wackerman three years ago for suspected arson.<\/p>\n
The Oak Fire caused $8.3 million in property damage and cost more than $100 million to fight.<\/p>\n
A third of Mariposa County was forced to evacuate as it burned for 43 days.<\/p>\n
“People were affected by it, and to have a trial up there would have been very, very difficult for the defense,” Action News Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi said.<\/p>\n
Wackerman rejected an offer from Mariposa prosecutors that would have brought at least 10 years in prison. His defense said it is ready for a fall trial.<\/p>\n
“It’s going to be a prosecution case, and the defense is going to have to show that there’s not enough evidence to show that this person started the fire, or was the cause of the fire,” Capozzi said.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors previously said they have a confession from Wackerman, while his defense team has not detailed its strategy.<\/p>\n
Attorney Ric Squaglia said he cannot speak because a gag order is now in place.<\/p>\n
“It’s to protect potential jurors, so neither party is biased by what’s said in the media, social media, the television” Capozzi said about the order.<\/p>\n
With the case moving to a Fresno jury trial, Wackerman appeared unhappy with his attorney and shouted at him outside the courthouse.<\/p>\n
“He’s up in age, in his 70s, (so) 10 to life could mean life in this particular case. But if you didn’t commit the crime, you go to court and make the government attempt to prove the case,” Capozzi said.<\/p>\n
Wackerman remains out of custody on an ankle monitor. A judge said all conditions from Mariposa County still apply.<\/p>\n
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