Teen arsonist sentenced to one year in jail

An 18-year-old Gardnerville youth will serve a year in the Douglas County jail for his involvement in 12 arsons started Nov. 5 through 7 of last year.

David Scott Killen, along with Gardnerville resident Harley Hook, also 18, started fires in four counties and on federal land.

In Douglas County, he and Hook started two fires at Walley's Hot Springs in Genoa and a third on Kingsbury Grade, which involved a Molotov cocktail.

The Douglas County Deputy District Attorney's charged Killen with one count of arson. Killen pleaded guilty to the charge Jan. 14.

District Court Judge David Gamble gave Killen a suspended sentence of 12 to 48 months in the Nevada Prison system. He will serve 12 months in Douglas County Jail, as part of the requirements of his probation.

"Upon completion in Douglas Count jail, his supervision will extend no longer than five years," Gamble said.

Although Deputy District Attorney Michael McCormick strenuously argued for prison time in the Nevada State system for Killen, Gamble told prosecutors and defense he feared that would make Killen "more of a criminal than he is now."

Killen's attorney, William Cole, argued that prison for Killen, who is not a pyromaniac, but a man with a history "of petty nonsensical crimes, including this one, which was senseless," would be almost like sending a sheep into a den of wolves.

Killen has been on suicide watch at Douglas County jail since returning from Lakes' Crossing Center for the Mentally Disordered Offender in Reno. He is in isolation.

McCormick said Killen's suicide watch requires additional staffing of Douglas County sheriff's deputies. He also pointed out that subjects are not sent to prison "to do them any good. We put them in prison to protect society," he said.

Killen and Hook will split restitution for the 12 arsons. At $1,000 a piece, both will need to repay $6,000.

Hook received a three-year suspended sentence from Judge Gamble on Jan. 28. He was ordered to serve nine months in the Douglas County jail as part of his probation.

Hook was charged with one count of attempted felony arson. Gamble reduced that to a gross misdemeanor so that Hook could pursue a career in the military.