Earnest Sunday Maynes, DOB: 2-21-81, appeared in Jefferson County District Court on May 24, where he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for setting eight fires in Lakewood in April, 2018. Seven horses and a dog 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. Lakewood 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 seven remaining horses.
During this same time, fires were set in seven other locations in the neighborhood. Maynes set fire in two dumpsters, to a car, a motorcycle and the space under the stairs of an apartment building where 20 were asleep inside.
Maynes pled guilty on April 4, 2019 to two counts of Arson (F3); eight counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty (F6); and one count of Criminal Mischief (F6). He had five prior felony convictions.
