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Deseret News Share this story Stuart Johnson, KSL TV After the Brian Head fire torched 13 homes and an expanse of forest the size of Salt Lake City, authorities in southern Utah were intent on holding the cabin owner who sparked it to account. Prosecutors charged him with reckless burning, a class A misdemeanor, but they ran into a problem. A conviction would prevent the state from tapping into insurance money to cover costs of rebuilding homes and fighting the fire. Some companies, including the defendant's insurer, don't pony up for damage caused by reckless conduct. Related "It prevent...

Prosecutors charged him with reckless burning, a class A misdemeanor, but they ran into a problem. A conviction would prevent the state from tapping into insurance money to cover costs of rebuilding homes and fighting the fire. Some companies, including the defendant's insurer, don't pony up for damage caused by reckless conduct. "It prevents what is justice, and that is trying to make victims whole," said Iron County Attorney Chad Dotson, a prosecutor on the Brian Head case. The insurance issue tends to crop up in cases tied to big fires wherein a defendant doesn't have the cash to cover exo...