Earnest Sunday Maynes, DOB: 2-21-81, appeared in Jefferson County District Court on April 5, where he pled guilty to eleven felony counts for setting eight fires in Lakewood in April, 2018. Six horses were killed in the fires.
On April 28, 2018 Lakewood police were called to the area of 5405 W. 3rd Avenue on a report of a structure fire. They found a large barn with animal stalls and two tons of hay on fire. Agents and police officers with the Denver Police Department assisted with the evacuation of 5-6 horses while West Metro Fire Department extinguished the fire. They were unable to rescue six remaining horses.
During this same time, fires were set in seven other locations in the neighborhood.
Maynes pled guilty to two counts of Arson (F3); eight counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty (F6); and one count of Criminal Mischief (F6). He will be sentenced on May 24 at 8:30. He faces a prison sentence of from 8-34 years. Because of prior felony convictions, he is not probation eligible.